By Taiye Olayemi

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has advised Nigerian youths to shun  the ‘Japa syndrome’, saying it does not  guarantee shortcut to affluence.

Mr Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, NCAC,  gave the advice during a tourism and culture stakeholders meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

The meeting meant to set agenda for the incoming government, had as its theme: “Culture, Peace and National Rebirth: An Agenda Setting”.

Runsewe gave instances where some youths travel abroad to embrace menial jobs which they found difficult to practice  in Nigeria.

He said it was high time the ‘japa syndrome’ was addressed as he urged the youth to remain creative and work on being self employed.

He noted that traveling abroad did not give room for automatic affluence.

“It is our duty to culturally guide the country, our youths are frustrated due to the state of the economy but it is not enough to travel out of the country to embrace menial jobs when they can stay and be creative to create wealth.

“There is the growing feeling of alienation among the vast majority of our youths,  manifesting in various forms of restiveness and the internationalisation and exhibition of vices that are at variance with our culture.

“We need to wake up to this reality and ensure the situation is promptly corrected as government and parents,” he said

Runsewe noted that the meeting was deliberately planned to guide the incoming government on what to be done in the cultural sector.

He said three garmane issues were addressed: the Japa syndrome, religious intolerance and violence as well as the need for cultural rebirth.

He appealed to Nigerian leaders at all levels to work as a team in providing the enabling social environment for the development of the nation by preaching peace, living in peace and working together in peace.

Also, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), said , “there is no greener pasture anywhere, the youth only need to be appropriately skilled to be self employed.

“The observation is also that the youth are too proud to embrace the reality; wasting their future abroad;  their choice of greener pasture can be created here in Nigeria as they embrace various skills.”

Earlier, Mrs Rebecca Ede, Chief Executive Officer,  Hadid Consult, said government’s assistance and urgent intervention was needed to position the youth to know what they have to project for wealth creation.

She advised that internet fraudsters should also be harnessed for rehabilitation  and reorientation.

She urged the youth to constantly upgrade themselves with some globally transferrable skills.
According to her, these skills refer to abilities or knowledge that extend beyond a specific role, function or profession

“The youth can empower themselves with power skills, also known as transferable skills like: problem solving, critical thinking, project management, relationship building, communication skills and technology skills.
“All these can be developed and served from Nigeria as they dominate the universe from home.
“These skills have the potential to be applied in various contexts, industries, or job functions, making them highly sought-after by employers worldwide.
“Possessing these skills can be an invaluable asset and can help you succeed, no matter where your career takes you. The good news is that developing these skills is straightforward, and they can be applied to any career path,” she said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Taiye Olayemi

NECLive, a West African annual conference of creative industry professionals has introduced a new multi-venue and global format as it celebrates 10th anniversary.
 
 
Ayeni Adekunle, Founder of NECLive, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
 
NECLive brings together music artistes, comedians, Nollywood artistes  and other stakeholders in the entertainment industry such as producers, marketers, creative arts and media professionals for a full day of conversations, workshops, exhibitions and master classes
 
Adekunle said after 10 years in a single city, the conference would now hold simultaneously in other parts of Nigeria and in key cities across Africa, Europe, and America.
 
According to him, these changes are a matter of necessity, given where the industry is today; and in line with the new challenges and opportunities on the horizon.
 
“When we conceived the idea for an annual conference 10 years ago, it was out of frustration.
 
“Frustration about lack of education, about piracy, about lack of platforms, access and opportunities for entertainment practitioners to monetise their talent at scale.
 
“Today, most of those problems have largely been solved but we are now faced with even bigger problems and opportunities.
 
“I believe that it’s time to begin the work of making sure Africa’s creators and everyone else in the value chain; as well as our societies and economies, get the maximum possible value from our contribution and growing participation in the global entertainment marketplace,” he said

According to Adekunle, from 2024, the new NECLive will hold over the course of a month, from April to May every year.
 
He explained that it would begin with a flagship event in Lagos, and run through cities like Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Ibadan.
 
He said the event would also run through London and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom; Atlanta and New York in U.S., as well as other key African cities like Nairobi, Accra and Johannesburg, among others.
 
He said that NECLive was founded in 2013 and had provided a sustained platform for conversations and interventions for an industry that has fought against all odds to survive and thrive.
 
He said the annual conference had hosted 11 events that have seen over 100,000 participants, reaching an audience of over 100 million in more than 30 countries with over 40 broadcast hours.
 
According to him, NECLive has generated over 100 partners, sponsors and brokered more than 700 deals.
 
Adekunle said NECLive would henceforth present a global showcase of the African entertainment experience.
 
He said this would be for the benefit of platforms, labels, investors, brands, businesses, talents, governments, and other stakeholders.
 
“The industry, even the whole world has changed a lot since we kicked off NECLive in 2013.

“Having realised that most of the frustrations that led us to found NECLive have since been solved, I believe it is now time to face newer, bigger battles.
 
“We wanted some standardisation around distribution, now we have it. We wanted access to bigger markets and opportunities to monetise and it’s already happening.
 
“We wanted honour, recognition and acknowledgement. It is happening; It is still early days but it is already happening. But what does it mean? Where is it headed? How do we benefit individually and collectively sustainably? What happens next?
“We are spending the next 10 years of NECLive answering these questions and more.
“And to do that well, we have to overhaul the entire format. So, starting April 24, 2024, we will decentralise the platform, hosting shows and workshops and exhibitions and more all over the world,” he said.
Adekunle noted that the flagship events in Lagos and other Nigerian cities will be retained.
“But no matter where you are in the world, the plan is for you to be able to witness the African entertainment experience.
“This is from the point of view of carefully selected professionals who have given and continue to give everything it takes to build what I am convinced will shape up to be the most successful creative industry in the world.
 
“NECLive will now be presented annually by Africa Creative Foundation, an invite-only membership-based organisation to be launched this summer. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Taiye Olayemi

Dr Bobby Moroe, South African Consul-General in Lagos, on Saturday called on Nigerians to choose South Africa as their preferred tourist destination.

Moroe made the call during the South Africa Week, held in Lagos, to celebrate the country’s 29th anniversary of democratic rule as well as bilateral and diplomatic relations with Nigeria.

According to the Consul-General, South Africa is  a suitable country to visit for business, conferencing, tourism, education and leisure.

“Today, we are celebrating the diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa, we are also celebrating 29 years of democracy in South Africa.

“We have chosen to celebrate in Nigeria to appreciate the role Nigeria has played in struggle for South Africans’  liberation.

“South Africa will never forget the role Nigeria has played in its liberation agenda, so this is how we show our appreciation.

“Today is the begining of a new journey in the renewal of our friendship with Nigerians. So, we urge Nigerians to visit South Africa for conferencing, studies, business and to find love.

“South Africa is open for tourism,” he said.

Also,Thekiso Rakolojane, Regional Head, South Africa Tourism (SAT), said the ‘Rainbow Nation’ was well endowed with choice destinations for tourists as he explained the available attractions.

“We at South Africa Tourism are excited to be part of the celebration of South Africa week. We have been here since 2015 and we appreciate the relationship so far.

“We seize this opportunity to welcome tourists to South Africa to explore the abundance of beaches, wildlife and all,” he said.

Some of the South Africans and Nigerians at the programme, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) spoke on their attractions for cultures of other countries.

Musa Nzuza, a South African, who is into  industrial catering, said ” I cherish Nigerian food and their respectful nature; the greetings are second to none; I always feel like a queen when they greet. Infact, Nigeria is my second home.”

Also, Herman Franken, who works with South Africa International Breweries, said having worked in Zambia, Namibia and Ghana, he could boldly say Nigerians were more friendly and approachable.

Similarly, Lynette Mitchell, Financial Manager with SON International,  described Nigerians as welcoming, hospitable and best people in Africa.

A Nigerian Model, Mr Kenneth Joseph, said ” South Africans are also loving individuals who are so passionate about their culture. This, I cherish in them.

“Nigerians must also learn to take pride in their culture and improve on exhibiting it.”

NAN reports that delegates at the event were entertained with scintillating Zulu dance performance.  (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Taiye Olayemi

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) says its 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) will focus on enlightening members on travel trade promotion.

Mrs Susan Akporiaye, NANTA’s National President, disclosed this during a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.

Akporiaye said the AGM which would hold from April 25 to April 27, would be a non-elective one, and had been deliberately planned for members to learn how to approach their businesses as well as promote it.

She said the travel trade industry was confronted with series of challenges ranging from trapped funds, monopoly of the market, unfair practices, border and visa issues.

According to her, the AGM will have the NANTA members engage on how to navigate through the challenges to be able to break even in business.

“We are here to inform you about our 47th AGM in Abuja, April 25th to 27th 2023, and as usual, we will use the opportunity to learn from experts about areas of our business that must be addressed and improved upon.

“The theme for the AGM is “Professionalism: A Key To Surviving Aviation Downstream Turbulences And Its Exploitative Effects”.

“No doubt, the travel world is incredibly interesting but there are also areas of concern; such as trapped funds, monopoly, unfair practices, border and visa issues and whole lot of emerging complexities.

“Mr Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will be speaking to us, not only on how we can confidently protect our businesses and clients.

“He will also enlighten us on how to navigate challenges of foreign airlines trapped funds and its impacts on our businesses,” she said.

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Taiye Olayemi

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has partnered the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA) to improve inter-Africa travels.

Mrs Susan Akporiaye, President of NANTA, during a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said to actualise the plan, the two bodies would be hosting an international travel and tourism conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.

She said the conference slated to hold from May 4 to May 7, was also to promote Africa as a destination for tourism and unite the continent.

According to her, the conference will bring together industry players across African countries to market their tourism products as well as brain storm on how to ensure seamless travels across the continent.

“We are glad to inform you that for the first time in Africa, two industry associations, NANTA and TOUGHA, endorsed by South Africa Tourism (SAT), will be hosting a hybrid multi layer tourism industry conference in Johannesburg.

“This conference is birthed out of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

“NANTA and TOUGHA would assemble the best faculty from the University of Johannesburg on tourism enterprise and related businesses.

“This is to help define and determine the immediate and future drive of the industry, its profitability and challenges.

“We would have two panel sessions, one day workshop that will involve government and private sector participation, exhibitions and lots more,” she said.

Akporiaye noted that the conference was also an attempt to quell South Africa Xenophobia tendencies and encourage brotherliness with citizens from all African countries.

She explained that going forward, NANTA would allow a country to host the conference for minimum of 2 years consecutively before moving to another country.

“At this point, we need to drop the borders, we do not need the borders in Africa for travel businesses to flourish.

“Already, we have people from Cameroon, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe indicating interest to attend.

“At the end of this all, we pray we are able to get positive resolve on cumbersome visa procurement processes and other challenges.

“We must appreciate and commend the management of South Africa Tourism (SAT).

“Particularly their teams in Nigeria and Ghana for the special interest in our growth through knowledge based exposures and assistance to our clients wishing to visit, trade, and immerse in South African hospitality and culture,” she said.

Also speaking, Mr Yinka Folami, Vice President of NANTA, Lagos office, said the conference which would be certificated, was open to individuals, organisations, and agencies in Nigeria and Ghana.

Folami noted that it would be opened particularly to those with the interest of impacting positively on the growth and sustainability of the various value chains in the African cultural tourism economy. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Vivian Ihechu

By Taiye Olayemi

National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), a parastatal of the Federal Government, is to hold a gastronomy festival on June 16 and 17, 2023, to market African cuisines.

Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, NIHOTOUR, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, in Lagos, through his Special Assistant, Mr Joesef Karim.

Kangiwa said the 2023 edition of the festival was the third consecutive food and beverage exhibition and sampling event annually organised by NIHOTOUR since 2021.

The theme for the festival will be “Culinary Arts: The Gate Way to Growing Tourism Destinations”.

“NIHOTOUR’s gastronomy festival is positioned to be one of the largest and most culturally eclectic culinary arts and related gastronomy event in Africa.

“The event will attract over 5,000 visitors and industry stakeholders who will participate in the experiential learning of food production processes and indulge in free sampling of diverse Nigerian and international cuisines and beverages on display.

“The festival will be laced with traditional gaiety and entertainments that highlight Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, including musicals and dance choreography.

“This will hold at Abuja International Conference Centre, on the 16th and 17th of June 2023,” he said.

According to him, NIHOTOUR was established by an Act of Parliament to train, certify and register personnel in Nigeria’s hospitality, travel and tourism sectors.

He explained that the gastronomy festival was conceptualised to upskill Nigerian gastronomes on nitty-gritties of the preparation and presentation of foods, especially Nigerian traditional cuisines.

He said the objective was to improve the expertise of personnel in the industry.

“Due to the dearth of skilled culinary artistes in Nigeria, NIHOTOUR’s gastronomy festival provides one of the best opportunities for hospitality and tourism stakeholders, students, and enthusiasts to have hands-on learning.

“This will also expose them to perspectives on the sustainability of developing tourism destinations, using activities of gastronomy festivals as promotional tools.

“This year’s event will attract more foreign missions and corporate Nigeria brands involved in food and beverage processing, research, and development,” he said.

Kangiwa noted that activities slated for the two-day event included Nigerian food and beverage exhibition by NIHOTOUR and other leading restaurant franchises; international cuisines showcasing by foreign missions in Nigeria and cooking competition by Nigerian culinary schools.

He said other activities were: ‘Jollof War’ by select west African chefs and investiture of NIHOTOUR fellowship on outstanding individuals who have immensely contributed to the development of hospitality and tourism sectors in Nigeria.

“There would also be conferences involving Nigeria’s leading tourism and hospitality stakeholders and business operators, as members of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSCN).

“NIHOTOUR would deliver training and masterclass for members of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Travel Writers (ANJET).

“The facilitators slated for ANJET training include Mr. Buky Ponle, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Chief Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture.

“We also have Peter Igho, the brain behind some of the most popular programmes on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) that enthralled households in the 1970s and the 1990s,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Taiye Olayemi

The National Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria,  (ATBOWATON ) has congratulated Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for his re-election in Saturday’s polls..

Dr Gani Balogun, National President of ATBOWATON, congratulated the governor in a statement on Tuesday.

Balogun said he worked in partnership with Mr Tope Fajemirokun, Waterfront Boat Operators and Water Transporters Association (WABOTAN) to mobilise a coalition of trade operators and ferry services entrepreneurs to campaign for Sanwo-Olu.

He said the governor deserved to win based on his first term scorecard, adding that Lagos waterways transportation ecosystem would benefit from his dedication and passion.

” Both ATBOWATON and WABOTAN, are well pleased with Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s re-election.

” During the campaign, we took a position based on what he brought to the table,  particularly in carrying us along in rebuilding and calibrating the entire ecosystem of the sector.

” Our associations are ready,  really ready to mobilise and activate both the socio economic and security opportunities in water tourism  and logistics.

” It is big business elsewhere and we shall work with the governor and LASWA leadership to open this frontier,” he said.

Also, Fajemirokun said that the two bodies would be available as bridge and plank to open more rural areas to boats and ferry services.

He prayed that the governor would empower the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) to facilitate full realisation of making waterways transportation a dream economy.

” We are comfortable with the leadership of LASWA which delivers professionally on the governor’s road map on water transportation.

” We are also willing to partner the governor in reaching out and finding solutions to challenges of full empowerment of operations.

” Particularly as verifiable contributors to state financial purse and the provision of skills acquisition opportunities and jobs in boat business,” he said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Justina Auta

Some stakeholders have stressed the need to embrace cultural diversity to promote unity, peace and development in the society.

They made the call on Saturday at a World Cross Cultural Day celebration organised by Safe Heritage Crest Academy in Abuja.

Mrs Feyikemi Arolasafe, Proprietress of the academy, said diverse cultures, values and ways of life, showed the rich cultural history and heritage of a people, hence should not be allowed to go extinct.

Arolasafe said the event was aim at showcasing the school as a cross-cultural and cultural inclusiveness academy.

This, she said would prepared the students to adapt to various cultures, wherever they find themselves in future.

“As such, we need not perceive a country’s culture as an aspect of another country rather; it should be allowed to stand on its own.

“Every country is unique and we should embrace each other cultural diversities for unity, progress and prosperity of one another.

“We are training world conscious students and pupils who will find themselves tomorrow in various parts of the world as undergraduates, graduates and professionals.

“They will perfectly fit into the societies as responsible ambassadors,’’ she said.

Arolasafe said the event brings hopes, hope for harmony and peace between all races, tribes and religions in Nigeria, particularly at a time that the country was challenged.

“We hope to see the young generations inspired by the values of culture.

“This event will continue to promote sustainable peace, togetherness, co-existence and development that promote prosperity for this country and the world at large,’’ she said.

Also, Mr Gbenga Arolasafe, the school Chief Operating Officer, said: “the world is rich in cultural diversity and we want to make our children aware of this at an early age.

“We want them to appreciate various diversities in culture, languages, fashion, food, academic system.

“This will help them in their education because once they are aware of all these, they will not get overwhelmed when they travel to other countries because they are already familiar with their lifestyle.

He called on the government and other stakeholders to implement policies that would improve quality education standard in Nigeria.

One of the students, Miss Precious Enoma, said the cultural celebration would enable students, from an early age to know the different cultures especially their languages, fashion, music, arts and literature.

Other highlights of the day were, various food presentation, music, dance, drama and other activities showcasing various cultures in Nigeria, Jamaica, South Africa, India, France and China by the students. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Isaac Aregbesola