
Nigeria needs more international visitors to come see
the beauty and rich culture of its people. Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, the
United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary- General made this
known at a Gala Dinner and Command Performance in Lagos. The UNWTO boss said
his regret was that he came to Nigeria without his friends and family members
to witness the hospitality, music and top notch cultural performances he and
other participants were treated to.
“I really regret that I did not come here with my family members and friends to witness all these performances, but I will be back. I want to say that it is really amazing and many thanks that you showed us the best of your country, the best of the culture of your country, which is really unique. That is why people around the world have to come to Nigeria. That is why you need more international visitors to come here to see the beauty and see all these authentic culture you have,” he said.
The gala night is one of the activities lined up for the three-day conference aimed at transforming the tourism sector into a preferred sector, and the creative industry into a creative economy.
Pololikashvili expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for accepting to host the conference and wished the country “peace, prosperity, health, wealth and all the best”.
While welcoming the guests to the gala night, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture said he was not ready to bore them with speeches but to allow them to partake in what the country could offer in the area of entertainment. Mohammed, however, thanked his colleagues Ministers from Namibia, Ivory Coast, Congo Kinshasa, Gambia, Togo, Benin, and Sierra Leone for honouring him by being at the gala night. He also thanked all the experts that participated in the workshops as well as everybody who in one way or the other had contributed in making the conference a success.
Highlights of the night were cultural dances and displays by the Nigerian troupe and dance drama on the unity of Nigeria. There were also cultural dances of the Ashanti from Ghana, Kikuyu from Kenya and Zulu from South Africa performed by Bolanle Austen-Peters Production.
Awards were given to individuals, entities and corporate bodies on culture, tourism, and creativity categories. Some of the awardees in the culture category are: Ofala Festival, which was received by the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and some members of his traditional council. The award given to Argungu Fishing Festival was received by three Emirs from Argungu Emirate in Kebbi state while the Osun Oshogbo Festival also received award on the culture category.
Some of the awardees in tourism and creativity categories are Goge Africa Productions, Wale Akinboboye, Segun Arinze, Charles Novia, Ali Baba, Ali Nuhu, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Chioma Ude and Dare Art-Alade.

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.