By Veronica Dariya

President, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Dr Dewayne Fraser, on Saturday said that Nigeria’s greatest wealth was not in oil but in its people and diverse cultures.
Fraser spoke in Jalingo, during an orientation program for the 2024 UNESCO World Heritage Volunteer (WHV) Initiative, aimed at creating awareness, preserving and protecting the Gashaka-Gumti National Park.
He said that the AUN takes a lot of pride in partnering with the African International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF), conveners of the event, to showcase the beauty of some of Nigeria’s heritage sites.
“Nigeria’s greatest wealth is not in oil; it is in the people and the diverse cultures they are blessed with and that is the 100 percent truth.
“I think that we can do so much more for people to come into this country, to learn about the wonderful tribes from Benue to Taraba, all the way to the Yorubas in places like Lagos and others.
“The cultures here is such a beautiful thing and if you didn’t know by now, they say one or two African- Americans have their history from the Nigerian heritage.”
Fraser added that it was important to find ways to bring more tourists from Nigeria, West Africa and all around the world, to visit the heritage sites, in to increase revenue to the government in the process.
He said that the 2024 WHV Initiative would not only promote tourism, but leave a legacy behind, as well as unforgettable stories that would linger in the history of the state.
He also encouraged the volunteers to always take such opportunities to go to places where there are tribes and roots that may be endangered or going away.
Fraser said: “Make sure you catch the cultural heritage history, do everything you can to keep local history alive because, it is like an endangered specie, once it is gone, it is gone forever.
“As an American, sometimes I wish that we have the unity that you all have; you have strength in diversity, do not let anybody tell you otherwise.
“People might try to divide you, but I tell you, your unity is your greatest strength.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 2024 UNESCO WHV initiative, is conveyed by AFIDFF, in collaboration with the Taraba state government.
Other partners include the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), National Council for Arts and Culture, (NCAC) and the National Park Service.
Others are, National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) Nigerian Red Cross Service, National Film and Censor Board, Nomad Africa, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and NAN among others.

The President of Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) Mrs Ime Udo, has called for the creation of value for tour operators for the improvement of tourism businesses in Nigeria.

Udo made the call at a roundtable and cocktail with the theme: “Creating values for Tour Operation in Nigeria’ on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said that adding value to the business of tour operators, would go a long way in harnessing economic growth in spite of the challenges confronting the industry in recent time.

Udo said it was time for NATOP to create necessary awareness by engaging everyone in the business of tour operation.

“We have realised that as tour operators, we have to come up with a law because we are not given necessary attention.

“We are sitting down with our business partners and everyone involved in this business to discuss on the way forward of the association.

Also speaking, Mr Folorunsho Coker, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), decried the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector.

Coker, who was represented by Mr Friday Anumba, Director of Special Duties, said that before the pandemic, tourism Gross Domestic Product was four to five per cent.

He said that the mandate of NTDC is to promote tourism and sell Nigeria as a tourist destination.

“After COVID-19 pandemic, we are still thriving to ensure that we bring our stakeholders to pace with what is going on in the industry.

“You will quite agree with me that if you are not in the digital world, the person is eventually out of business,’ he said.

The NTDC boss said that the cooperation encourages tour operators to work hard so that people could benefit from their products.

Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), said the institute had trained over 500 tour operators who were not members of NATOP.

Nura, represented by Mr Joesef Karim, Special Adviser, Technical to Kangiwa, said the institute monitor programme on what the tour operators had acquired as regard to basic training.

“Our trainings are based on the demand of the tour operators, we partner with states to create more value in the industry,” he said.

Mrs Susan Akporiaye, President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), said that her personal plan as president of the association was for it to operate in lower level.

“Building synergy with hotels owners will make things easy, because such will provide NATOP products and give them the right atmosphere to sell the products,” she said.

Mr Mark More, Managing Director, Motley Travel and Logistic Company, said NATOP was seeking to provide values for tour operations in Nigeria.

He said that before an individual embarks on the business of tour operation, standards and values must be put into consideration.

“What image are we projecting to the world about Nigeria, we have partners who have tourist sites they established in their various countries.

“We know COVID-19 pandemic scattered everything, but before the pandemic where were we, when people visit our country what package do we have? What inventories do we sell for people to buy?

According to him, “we should not allow people to write our analysis, rather we should write it by ourselves.

“We need to tell our story, we know our challenges but you see if you don’t sell your country who will.

“It is a great synergy we have to build together in order to see things running effectively,” he added.

He said that he looked forward to see synergy between NATOP and NANTA.

In attendance were the South African High, Mr T.D Mseleku and Ghanaian High Commissioners to Nigeria and ambassadors.