Telecommunications giant Globacom has praised President Bola Tinubu for the creation of the Ministry of Tourism.
Globacom, speaking through its Retail Chief, South-East/South-South office, Offor Augustus Ndu, stated this on Thursday at Onitsha during a press conference to announce activities heralding the 2023 Ofala festival in Onitsha.
Ndu said: “The recent creation of the Ministry of Tourism is an indication of the government’s recognition of the huge but untapped potential of this attractive sector.
“When we promote the rich festivals that abound in Nigeria, the world will know about them and slot them into their calendars, thus leading to a large number of tourists who would be willing to come to witness these festivals.
“This will be a booster for hotels, restaurants, tour guides, art markets, and several other sectors whose trade will be in demand by the visitors. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will also be created along the line.”
Earlier, the chairman of the Ofala Strategic, Marketing, and Communications subcommittee, Mr Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, unveiled activities to herald this year’s event, saying that the committee and her sponsors were ready to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha, which has over the years caused the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to endorse it as a major Nigerian festival.
“The annual Ofala has grown steadily over the years in terms of its scope, social glamour, and intrinsic meaning for us Ndi Onicha.
“An international art exhibition, a youths’ carnival, a marathon, and a post-Ofala banquet have enhanced the content and attractiveness of the festival.
“A lecture series will be introduced this year. With the strides that the Ofala has made, it continues to receive both national and international recognition.
“The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has endorsed the Onitsha Ofala Festival as a major Nigerian festival and issued a specific mandate in support of it,” he said.
