IDRIS AHMED, Lokoja
As the World Tourism Day scheduled for September 27 gets closer, Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board is partnering with the Ministry of Education to prepare for the activities to commemorate the day.
To this end, a quiz competition is to be organised on the day, with the preliminary expected to commence early in September.
This was disclosed by the General Manager of the Board, Hajia Bilkisu Abdulsalam Ogueyi, when she paid a working visit to the Commissioner of Education, Mr Wemi Jones, on Thursday.
Acording to her, the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day is “Tourism and Peace,” noting that fifteen schools both private and public across the three Senatorial districts are expected to participate in quiz competition.
Hajia Ogueyi said while peace is key to the development of any society, tourism is very important to promote the image of the state to the entire world.
She explained that the inclusion of secondary school students in this year’s celebration of the day awas to catch them young by inculcating the love of tourism in the young generation.
The general manager added that part of her vision for the tourism sector is to develop what she called health tourism, education tourism, agro tourism, sport tourism, and so on.
Responding, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, said he is overwhelmed by the partnership, saying the Ministry is ready to provide the needed support for the overall success of the programme.
Hon. Jones stated that the Ministry will continue to welcome partnerships that will enhance the growth of education in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Present, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“We are quite enthusiastic because anything that will enhance teaching and learning, the Ministry of Education is ready for it. That’s why we are willing and taking this opportunity with our two hands so that, at the end of the day, we can jointly move education forward.
“We want to take advantage of this partnership with Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board towards the International Tourism Day.
He, however, described the appointment of Hajia Bilkisu Abdulsalam as a step in the right direction in view of her track record of achievements in the area of hospitality and tourism management.
The Commissioner applauded Governor Ododo for appointing the right person to head the Hotels and Tourism Board, pointing out that better days are ahead for the tourism sector in the state.
According to him, the tourism potential of the state will be projected to the entire world with Hajia Bilkisu Abdulsalam as the general manager of the board.
The General Manager was accompanied on the visit by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Hotels and Tourism, Hon. Bashir Audi, and Muhammed Sabi, Board Secretary.
