A non-governmental organisation, Face of Osun Initiatives, noted on Thursday that, globally, the tourism industry contributes about 10 per cent to the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and charged the Federal government to scale up the sector and create an average of 2.6 million employment opportunities yearly for the next decade.
The director of the group, Timmy Abiri, who made the remark at a press conference in Osogbo, argued that statistical research for 2021 had shown that there were more than 2.4 million jobs in the travel and tourism sector in Nigeria and that creating employment opportunities should not be a problem for the government.
The group director, while commending President Bola Tinubu, on the choice of Lola Ade-john as the minister of interior, urged the government at all levels to engage youths in its bid to develop culture and tourism in the country.
“It is time for the Nigerian government to identify the potential of culture and tourism as a means of revenue generation. Fortunately, we are blessed with rich and incredible cultural artefacts and cultural heritage that can attract tourists from all over the world.”
“It’s only left for the government to tap into this opportunity and use that to boost the economy of the country.
“The government must also collaborate with stakeholders like this face of Osun initiatives to empower the youth and make them self-sufficient.
According to him, “Face of Osun Initiatives,” on its own part, had empowered over three hundred youths in Osun State in the past ten years.
While unveiling the Face of Osun Pageant 2023, Season Eleven, Light Edition, he described the initiatives as a way to empower youth through culture, tourism, and entrepreneurship development.
He stressed the need for the government to collaborate with stakeholders to provide job opportunities for youth through culture and tourism.
Abiri expressed optimism that the new minister of tourism, Lola Ade-John, will make significant improvements in the ministry by making it a revenue-generating port for the government.
The group boss, who revealed that about ten queens have emerged from the beauty pageant and all of them are doing well in their various fields of specialisation, said, “This is the eleventh edition, and we’re working to present a grand prize of a car to the winner.
This is added to the training and orientation that they will undergo during the audition, camping, and grand finale.”
He added that registration is open to all residents of Osun State.
Abiri lamented that since they started the Face of Osun Pageant, previous administrations have never deemed it necessary to support them, urging the present administration under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke to come to their aid by giving them the necessary support.
“Since the beginning of this project ten years ago, I can say we have never realised up to $1 million from the state government.
That means we got not up to 100 thousand annually from the state government for a multimillion-naira project.
“But we have hope that the present Governor, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, will like to support this project because he is a governor who is so passionate about the development of youths in the state.”
He, however, asked the interested participants to message or call +234 816 673 5096 for further information.
The state commissioner of information and public enlightenment, Hon. Kolapo Alimi, lauded the Face of Osun initiative, stressing that the government is ready to partner with any collaborator on culture, tourism, and youth development.
Co-sponsor and partner of the initiative, Mr Surajudeen Ajilesoro, said the programme, apart from its potential to promote culture and tourism, will boost the economy of the state.
He appealed for the support of the state government to ensure the success of the initiative.
Other dignitaries at the press conference were the special adviser to the state governor on tourism and culture, Hon. Temitope Omitogun, and Mr. Aderemi Oladosu, among others, who commended the organisers for the good initiatives.
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