MINISTRY INTENTIFIES EFFORT ON CULTURE, TOURISM

By Our Correspondent

          The Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism says it is committed to enhancing human and material resources in the culture and tourism sector for the growth and development of the State.

          Commissioner in the Ministry, Hon. Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo stated this while declaring open a day training on “Tools for Creating Culture and Tourism Potentials" for over 100 of its staffers at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta,

          Hon. Adeleye-Oladapo stated that the training was strictly targeted at Cultural and Tourism Officers at enhancing their productivity and professionalism, in the drive to boost the State’s revenue through Culture and Tourism, noting that “as the world had become digitalised, any individual or organisation that fails to follow the trend of development will be left behind”.

          The Commissioner who assured that the exercise would be continuous, maintained that the present administration places a premium on capacity development of its workforce to strengthen and develop their skills, urging the participants to put the knowledge acquired into practice.

          In his keynote lecture titled: "Pitching the Ogun State Culture and Tourism Potentials: An Inevitable Tool to Create a Culture, and Tourism-Friendly Economy", the Director of Hotels and Allied Businesses in the Ministry, Mr. Michael Ogunbiyi, who highlighted the socio-economic opportunities inherent in Culture and Tourism to include, increased Gross Domestic Product, creation of employment, cultural exchange, improved infrastructural facilities and community development, many more, said when the factors were well utilised, it would change the narratives of the State’s tourism.

          Contributing, the Chief Executive Officer of Crownworks Consultancy and Special Adviser, Institute for Tourism Professionals, South West, Mr. Charles Ukomadu, who spoke on "Tourism Product Development" and "Culture and Heritage Tourism", stated that ‘’Ogun State is blessed with cultural heritages that can be used to drive and change the tourism fortune of the State’’, emphasising the need to put the right peg in the right hole to achieve tourism productivity.

          Reacting, one of the participants, a Senior Tourism Officer, Mr. Abdulsalam Abdulrasak commended the Ministry for the well-packaged training, noting that it was an eye-opener that would improve their competency and professionalism.