Tourism can take Nigeria to promised land – Prof Gyewado ….We are on that course – CEO Treasure Hunt
((M-R: CEO Treasure Hunt, Gabriel Tukura and former Deputy Gov, Nassarawa State, Prof Onje Gyewado during a peace rally of Treasure Hunt 2016 at Sir Ibrahim Kashim R/about Kaduna on 29/10/2016))
//Tourism: Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna//
As country Nigeria finding it difficult to execute some of its statutory responsibilities due to dwindling economy premised on crude oil, former Deputy Governor of Nassarawa State, Professor Onje Gyewado has theorised that if adequate attention is given to tourism sector, it can take the country to its promised land.
The Professor of Law who stated this on Saturday while addressing cross section of Nigerians during peace procession rally and closing ceremony of the project Treasure Hunt 2016 in Kaduna added that, there is a lot of opportunities in tourism including foreign investors, massive employment for youths which will in turn generate income and revenue along the value chain as well as improved security.
He said, “as we begin this process of peace today in Kaduna, we believe we will get to our promised land.
“Their must be a vision in everything we are doing. The fact that we have chosen peace is quite topical and very necessary for the nation to move forward. Therefore this has contribution to developing Nigeria of our dream and Nigeria of the future which belong to our youths.
“We must also have the mindset of service because we are not alone where we live. This country belong to all of us and we must be able to do our bit to serve our community with sole intention of taking it to greater height it ought to be.
“”The Nigerian Peace Network is serving its community. For those of us that are young at heart and body, we must always remember that we have a duty to serve.
“The need for commitment you can see despite all the challenges, this network is committed to have a peaceful Nigeria by a way of mobilising our youths towards developmental purposes rather than crime.
“With our commitment, with our service to our communities, in the next few years, young Nigerians should be able to talk to themselves and reduce the level of fighting one another. We will disagree to agree and that means we don’t need to take arms against ourselves”, he added.
He then enjoined Nigerians not to be in possession of arms and ammunition while those already having them in their possession lay them down and allow the security agents saddled with such responsibility do their work for peace to reign across the length and breadth of the country.
“I want to enjoin all Nigerians to leave the security to the agencies saddled with such responsibility because government is spending good money on these agencies. Let us join government to sustain sustainable peace in our country and reduce the proliferation of arms in our various communities though some communities have already taken measures to do that”, added the prof.
The Initiator and Chief Executive Officer of Treasure Hunt Resorts, Mr. Gabriel Tukura told the mammoth crowd that Treasure Hunt came up with the idea of creating generally accepted peace ambassador who will emerge through task and eviction to know whether they have inner peace within themselves.
According to him, “after the thought, we need to search for peace ambassador in the area of tourism which is one area that can bring Nigerians into a unifying force; financially, politically, socially and what have you. So we have to go round Kaduna which is the host state.
“Kaduna has unique things to showcase to the whole world in term of tourism. We are like okay, can we leave the attitude of banking on oil to make good our economic growth and look elsewhere apart from oil. I discovered we have left behind our tourism sector because there is no one to develop it. Very many exciting tourism sites in Kaduna are unknown to many people and that is one if the great discovery the Treasure Hunt is looking at.
“So when we expose the tourism potential we have in the state with all the stakeholders coming together, we will get our youths engaged in one activity or the other and that will in turn bring desired peace as well as revenue across the value chain”, he added.