The elasticity of the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo, for orchestrating practical promotion of tourism industry in Nigeria, with domestic tourism as a catalyst, to achieve a predetermined goal of creating wealth and jobs at the grassroots level in the country, is limitless.
Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation

Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation

The ebullient NTDC boss leverages on every opportunity to preach and promote domestic tourism . The latest one was the Iri Ji Ndi Igbo 2014 (National New Yam Festival 2014), where she calculatedly enlightened the community leaders and participants at the event.

Iri Ji Ndi Igbo is an event bequeathed on the Igbos by their great ancestor, Igbo, the head and father of Igbo race and nation. The festival is celebrated by the Igbo people, held at the end of the rainy season, to symbolize the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle. The celebration is also a very culturally based occasion, tying individual Igbo communities together as essentially agrarian and dependent on yam.

The port of call of the NTDC boss in Ugbo Ukwu community in Anambra State for the celebration of this year’s Iri Ji Ndi Igbo was the Igbo-Ukwu palace to pay homage to the Idu II of Igbo-Ukwu, HRH Idu (Dr.) Martin Ezeh.

HRH Ezeh while reacting to the visit of Dr Mbanefo to his palace prior the commencement of the festival lauded the strides of the NTDC boss at promoting domestic tourism and cultural festivals in the country.

“Dr Sally Mbanefo has a blessing to Nigeria, and in particular the Nigerian tourism industry. If men and women of vision and passion for nation building like our daughter, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo are at the helms of affairs of every sector in Nigeria, the nation will not only express her appellation as the Giant of Africa, but also as the Giant of the whole world. This is because we have the resources, what we only need are men of vision and patriotism to manage the resources for the benefit of all,” HRH Ezeh disclosed.

The Odogwu of Ibusa and Director of Centre for Igbo Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nnsuka, Dr Tony Nwaezeigwe, who corroborated the submission of the Igbo-Ukwu monarch on the efforts Dr Mbanefo at promoting Nigeria’s tourism industry, culture and tradition enjoined the NTDC boss to make a policy that will make the Igbos understand and appreciate their culture and tradition.

“Foreigners are coming to appreciate what we have, in terms of culture and heritage, hence we should never allow those inestimable virtues to go into extinction. Thus, I plead with our government to make Igbo language and history a must in the academic curricular, thereby protecting our language, culture and tradition,” Dr Nwaezeigwe submitted.

Like she did with other traditional rulers during their festivals, Dr Mbanefo presented HRH Ezeh with a cow for the celebration of the festival.

The National Yam House venue of the festival was electrified with the entrance of the NTDC boss, with the dancing troupe of the community welcoming her with series of melodious traditional songs and beats, while the DG alighted from the vehicle and dancing to the rhythm of the troupe’s traditional music to the admiration of participants.

In her speech, Dr Mbanefo noted that the Igbo nation is a people who are blessed with everything that make a great nation, adding that the human material resources that are found in Igboland are enough to make Nigerian tourism Africa’s destination hub.

Her words: “Tourism is a principal export for 83 per cent of developing countries and it is the most significant source of foreign exchange after petroleum. We committed to promoting domestic tourism, as its market has a very high revenue and job creation potentials. Tourism industry contribution to GDP is valued at approximately N1.3trillion with a 2.6 per cent contribution to total employment at 1,636,500 jobs.

“According to available data, Nigeria recorded a total 4,037,808 tourist arrival in 2013 while $649,468,486 forms their expenditure. As a result, I am committed to taking Nigeria tourism to greater height by increasing domestic tourism revenue, expand domestic tourism volume by at least 30 per cent and entrench a culture of tourism among Nigerians.

“I will continue to collaborate a sustainable partnership with the private sector operators to harness tourism resources and make Nigeria destination hub of Africa, and further grow the tourism value chain to enhance revenue generation in the country”.

She also enjoined the traditional rulers to intensify efforts at creating an enabling environment for domestic tourism to thrive in their community, while pledging the commitment of government to support and strengthen the festival in order to serve as a veritable channel to promote and market Nigeria’s rich culture.

The NTDC boss charged Igbo parents and guidance to ensure that the speaking of vernacular in their homes is encouraged as a means of communication which according to her “is a strong tool in promoting our cultural heritage.”

The Igbo-Ukwu community, in appreciation of the NTDC boss’ contribution to the development of Nigerian tourism industry and support for the Igbo community, conferred on her the Ona Mma Ndi Igbo.

Conferring the chieftaincy title on Dr Mbanefo, HRH Ezeh, said: “Mbanefo did not buy this chieftaincy title with money, rather we consider it apt for her, having considered her immense contributions to Nigeria and support for the promotion and development of Igbo culture and tradition. We pray that God almighty will continue to strengthen her and bless her with the wisdom to record a successful tenure in office, thereby propelling the movement of this nation and the Igbo communities to their respective promised land.”

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/09/2014-igbo-ukwu-new-yam-festival-boost-domestic-tourism/

Lagos is a no man's land. Anything goes..lol

Not exactly but what I am saying is that the month just ended. It could be that their payment is being processed as we speak..

Sealeddeal: so we should compare Obiano with states that owe their workers up to 6months salary and not states that does not owe their workers at all?

I have warned you to stop calling my name on matters that concerns Imo state and its governor. I have seen this thread but because it does not concern me, my people and my state so I decided to walk over it.

I am not interested on anything that has to do with your state so far as it does not affect me, my people and my state!

Abagworo:

Easily decodable Chino. Go read "Things fall apart" by Chinua Achebe and you will understand I'm the Okonkwo character. For Igboland I'll do anything but I can't stand taking Igbos forgranted. I see Rochas as the only Igbo Governor left on my side. If he leaves then we have no voice.

My mom is a director in the state ministry of works and she has received her salary for August besides the month of August just ended. Probably their salary is being processed at the moment.

Go to other states and see how they are owed for upwards of 6 months without pay.

Frankenstein: No, they are not. None of the teachers working in public primary schools have received their August salary. No pun.

The terrorist stage-managed an attack on himself thinking that he would deceive anybody..

tomakint:
You can imagine the Dramendra movie he acted with his jeep of recent.....like they used to say, 'Actor no dey die for film'

It is not longer news that Buhari is the unseen hand behind Boko Haram activities. I see the senile end up in Hagues!

tomakint:
You dey mind the e-monkeys? They even have the effrontery to call him 'the People's General' and I asked, which people? Like I used to say, to finish Buhari, 'just give him the mic' he must surely mis-yearn!

Buhari is a senile old terrorist that should not be allowed to be seen any where near government building talk more of Aso Rock..

Buhari is a known Islamic extremist and a grand patron of Boko Haram insurgents..

A vote for Buhari is a vote for Boko Haram..

Say NO to Buhari, say NO to Boko Haram..

Which region? Be specific! Since when has Lagos became yolobarland or yolobar developed enclave? Igbos only go to Lagos which an FG developed enclave and not yolobar. Please learn to know the difference Lagos (FG enclave) and traditional yolobar enclaves. Igbos are not found in such rural areas as Ibadam, Abeokuta, Oshogbo etc..

Come here in the East all what your yolobar people are doing here is selling something that looks like concoction called 'agbo' medicine. But Igbos don't even patronize that dirty stuff they hawk around. All the tailors and taxi drivers in the East are all yolobar graduates.

T8ksy:



Abi ojare!!!


Once they graduated from their discipline with top grades they will still end up in our region, selling us all kind of fake products, ranging

from motor spare parts, medicines to cement.

Just stumbled on your post..

Don't expect to see anything because the entire oshun state was built 100% with red earth mud and rustic roof..

Vig86: Just came back today from Osun state. Guys I didn't see anything like performance o. My view may differ anyway because I am seeing the state as it is and those that know the state before now will view the state in relative to what was obtainable in the state. I was busy telling the cab driver to flaunt his state capital by taking us to the main city in the capital city. I am going to stay there for one good year..... and in all, I love Osun, I love the good people of Osun but no performance.

oshun odara oo..

Still searching for the said development..

Mud and brown roofs are the hallmark of Oshun and entire yolobarland..

Goodnite to you guys..

Good job keep it coming..

^^^^^You don't always make sense..

What do you use to smoke at times? Now I have listed areas of development indices above for you to rank Oshun your state but you have dodged it. Oshun is a rural rag-tag state with over 98% of its homes built with rust and mud.

You cannot find a single Igbo man in yolobarland because Igbos do not live in mud house since entire yolobarland was built 100% with mud and rust..

Go and tell your governor to pull down entire oshun state to pave way for decent development as can be seen in the East..

I am done with this back and forth. This is weekend..bye

I want somebody to rate these following indices of development in Oshun.. cheesy

- Education

- Health

- Industrialization/employment

- Urban/rural development


What we hear everyday is media propaganda, no real development in physical terms. Oshun is a rap-tag state!

Shut up my friend you are not making any sense..

Igbos only go to Lagos and not Yolobarland because the last I checked Lagos is an FG enclave and a no man's land..

I repeat Oshun your home state is a rural state which its people live below 20cents per day and highest employer of labour in that state is Okada riding..

As for oshogbo it is a town built 100% with red earth mud and rustic zinc..I can't even allow my dog to sleep there for one day talk more of myself..


[s]

AlabaBoss:

Hey accursed, the aesthetics of a state or country does not determine the level of development it has achieved.

There are some Eastern European capitals that are more aesthetically appealing than most parts of the UK or Sweden but most of their citizens sell their possessions to relocate to the former to have a better life. I doubt you will ever comprehend that anyway since you are stuck in your village.

If Oshun people live on 20 cents a day, why are my Igbo people trooping there on a daily basis to escape the poverty ravaging Anambra state? You seek unnecessary relevance on a faceless forum by making up BS.

I have been to Oshogbo and I will rather live there than my town in Awka. If people like you spend a quarter of your time developing Anambra instead of envying Yolobar land, Alaigbo would have been more livable.

Anambra adigo mma eee

[/s]

You can console yourself all you want but aregbe is a media man with real substance. We want to see in pictorial terms what the clown achieved so far..

swezenberg:

Same Jamb and WAEC with lots of expos flying around. Then those regions are truly smarter than others.

I want to see in pictorial terms what the clueless governor has achieved so far..

I have listed basic indices of development above, could you please rate the governor..

Jokay07: Only a feather-brained slime-ball of ur calibre would ground the performance of a state governor over a sheer or piteous waec result as many of these students won't be able to defend their certificate just like you. You were too quick to make ''waec results'' a nuisance value just to console yourself. I see, unletteredness is not incompetent to read but incompetent to comprehend or probablly extrapolate what has been read!!! Aregbesola is the best performing governor and u are here spraying my screen with claptraps. Rubbish!!

I want somebody to rate these following indices of development in Oshun..

- Education

- Health

- Industrialization/employment

- Urban/rural development


What we hear everyday is media propaganda, no real development in physical terms..

If he cannot change the roofs then he is not doing anything because the average oshun man or woman lives on less 20cents per day. The poverty in that state can only be compared to the ones in Bornu at the moment.

Aregbe should start creating meaningful employment by attracting investors than all these media hype when we all know that Oshun is nothing but a highly rural undeveloped state.

Gbawe:

His opinion will be relevant when he develops the intellect to appreciate the 'intangible' aspect of governance that, in the case of Nigeria or Countries similar to it, helps the people to be human resources tool that will, above anything else, develop progress and development. An inspired, talented, innovative and skilled polity built and developed the USA. Ditto for the UK, Germany, France et al. Anyone who understands the "teach a man to fish" concept will know why Aregbesola can be viewed an impressive Governor. For example, 'dense' and hateful folks are obsessed with posting pictures of brown roofs in Osun.

Aregbe cannot change that because majority are roofs of private homes with the onus of modernisation and renovation falling on the private owners of those homes. If Aregbe however does his best to boost per capita income, create a bigger middle class, boost employment, attract FDI to Osun and generally empower the human capacity development of the people, then Osun folks with more new and disposable income and better peace of mind will develop a culture of DIY and take pride in their home looking its best. With how Nigeria is whereby average family income cannot even take care of school fees, who will think about rusty roof? Empower and enrich a people and they can do achieve everything. That is what Aregbesola is trying to do.

Best performing on rust and mud..

This one beats you as well..

collybaby: oluwasegunfunmi-real name- chidiebere nwakebeyi from abia state but living in Yorubaland

collybaby: tomakint in his palace

But if that is Tomakint, he beats you hands down. you look sickly, fugly and jobless..

Odinma how nah?

Odinma needs our help abeg..

I missed his pictures. Please post it let us compare it with that of odinma..

dozzybaba: I saw ilugunboy aka Pa ilugun peeping in few minutes ago..

Baba 60...won't you tell us the civil war story...as an eye witness?...

Make sure Odinma nose do not see you!

oluwasegunfummi: another thread of my odualand coming out ASAP

For people asking where Kalvan is..look below!

This is the said Kalvan a.k.a Odinma a.k.a Collybaba..

We need the nose badly..