June 28, (THEWILL) – Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, has expressed readiness to empower 50 vibrant Ekiti youths in tourism while the Director General, NTDC, Mr Folorunso Folarin Coker applauded governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for efforts he made to ensure tourism thrives across the state.
According to Mr. Coker, Dr. Fayemi is one of the very few state governors who comprehend the import of tourism and who has been so strategic at establishing a sustainable platform for tourism to blossom in Ekiti.
Mr Coker who made this revelation in his office in Abuja while receiving in audience the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ekiti State on Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre who paid him a courtesy call said that Governor Fayemi has not allowed the pressure demands from other sectors from paying attention to the tourism sector.
He said that he had keenly monitored the development in the tourism sector in the state, right from the recreation of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, the establishment of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism Development and the setting up of Tourism Strategic Committee, insisting that these are brainwork of a tourism conscious individual.
Mr Coker disclosed that he had also read various reports on the pristine and spectacular tourism potentialities in the state which include the newly discovered Abanijorin Rock in Iyin, the Potsherd Pavement in Imesi Ekiti, Mountain of Clouds in Efon Alaye, the Source of Osun River in Igede, the Palm Tree with 42 heads in Ilogbo Ekiti and many others which need to be packaged globally for visibility.
The DG pointed out that Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari is a value-added tourism event capable of drawing thousands of visitors to the state through-hikers interstate and continental engagement.
He applauded Governor Fayemi for embracing Private – Public Partnership in the management of Ikogosi Warm Spring, Fajuyi Park and Arinta Waterfall, Ipole Iloro which have been concessioned to private companies.
Coker promised to reinforce Governor Fayemi’s tourism stride in Ekiti that 50 Ekiti youths would benefit from NTDC capacity building for youths in the tourism sector
He disclosed that the youths would acquire skills in branding, marketing, packaging and digital media exposure of Ekiti tourism assets.
Coker who promised to pay an official visit to Ekiti State to eat original pounded yam said that pounded yam is Ekiti’s niche of the Nigerian staples.
He affirmed that NTDC would collaborate, assist, promote and market Ekiti tourism potential because the governor is strategically positioning the tourism sector in the global market for consumption.
Ambassador Ojo-Lanre who congratulated Coker for his reappointment as the DG, NTDC, stressed that his visit to Abuja was also to seek contact collaboration, networking and assistance for Ekiti tourism development from NTDC.
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