The General Manager, National Theatre, Prof. Sunday Ododo, on Thursday unveiled the maiden edition of the Africa Youth Tourism Festival slated to hold from April 16 to 20, 2024, in Nigeria.
Ododo, who conducted the unveiling during the 5th edition of Destination Tourism Show, said the festival would go a long way in securing the future of Africans and its culture.
“Nigeria is blessed, every corner you see different cultural elements. Our culture is our identity, a conglomeration of identity is the strength that we parade as a diverse continent of Africa.
“Indeed the future belongs to our youths, with the Africa Youth Tourism Festival, it is a good anchor to secure our future as a people.
“On this note, on behalf of the good people of Nigeria and Africa, join me to unveil the Africa Youth Tourism Festival,” he said.
Giving details of the event, Mr Ayo Omotosho, Convener of Destination Tourism Show, said the festival was designed to harness the African youths and engage them in tourism activities for self reliance and financial liberation.
Omotosho said the youths were known to be endowed with the needed vigour to promote and celebrate tourism.
According to him, the festival would be held annually after the maiden edition and be hosted in different countries across the world.
Omotosho also unveiled actress Laide Bakare and actor Ayo Badmus as the faces of the festival who would also help to promote the festival.
Earlier, Omotosho commended individuals in the tourism, hospitality and culture industries as well as Local Government Areas in Lagos state, for contributing significantly to the growth of the industries.
He however conferred award as Peace Ambassador for philanthropy and service to humanity to Alhaji Lukman Mohammed, a tourism promoter, for his commitment and devotion to the wellbeing of the destitute in the society.
He said Mohammed had been able to reduce the number of hoodlums in the Lagos Island by engaging them in enterprising ventures.
Another tourism promoter, Chief Tunde Oloyede, was declared Peace Ambassador for African Cultural Heritage while Mr Abolaji Kelani, Chief Executive Officer of Aerovessel Travels was pronounced as Global Destination Toursism Promoter.
The Local Government Tourism Promoter Awards were given to Hon. Emmanuel Bamgboye, Chairman, Mushin Local Government; Princess Surah Animashaun, Chairman, Epe Local Government; Hon. Razak Kasali, Chairman, Lekki Local Council Development Area.
Mr Dine Bouraima, President, Le Consortium Touristes Par Millions bagged the Tourism Destination Leader Award.
Commenting on ways to further develop tourism in Nigeria, Funmi Awelewa, an author, advised tourism practitioners to work more on documenting Nigerian unique cultural elements, festivals and tourism destinations.
Awelewa said this would go a long way in spurring tourists into the nation.
Kazeem Balogun, Founder, Kalo Africa said Nigerians needed to consciously celebrate our diversity.
“The world is looking out to Nigeria, we need to exhibit more of our culture to show our diversity, which is the beauty of the nation.
” We need to change the negative perspective of the global communities about Nigeria by deliberately telling our stories.”
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer, Mamamia Tours, Seyi Kelani,
advised officials of the Local Government Areas to intensify efforts in engaging people at the grassroots on tourism education.
Also, Co Founder, Nigeria Tourism Lovers, Makanjuola Ibrahim,
urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of travelling and recreating within the nation to boost nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
