The National Assembly on Sunday expressed its willingness to promote cultural carnivals in Nigeria so as to boost the country’s economic growth and development.
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said this in Abuja at the ongoing Abuja International Carnival.
He said that the National Assembly was ready to partner with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation to promote national carnivals.
Tambuwal noted that the Abuja carnival had engendered global attention and influx of tourists, adding that the National Assembly’s partnership would further boost the country’s tourism potential.
“We are ready to partner with the ministry to boost the tourism potential of the country.
“The sector has a huge potential to contribute immensely to the development of the national economy,’’ he said.
Tambuwal noted that the Abuja carnival promoted unity, peace and harmony in the country, with the different states showcasing their cultural potential.
Earlier, Chief Edem Duke, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, said that the sector ought to be elevated to become part of the major contributors to the growth of the economy.
He said that currently, tourism currently generated about four per cent of the country’s income.
The minister, however, said that the culture and tourism sector was one of the top four sectors that contributed to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“There are lots of prospects in the sector that needed to be harnessed for economy development.
“Tourism is the second largest sector of the economy in the world,’’ he said.
Duke said that the carnival would boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings, adding that it also had helped in repositioning and transforming the culture and tourism sector.
“Abuja carnival is a selling point in marketing and showcasing the country’s tourism and cultural potential to the world,’’ he added.
Duke said that the carnival would also boost the country’s tourism potential; while making Nigeria one of the preferred tourist destinations in world.
