By Zainab Oyekan

Plateau held a marathon in Jos on Wednesday to commemorate this year’s International Wildlife Day.

Eighty-four athletes participated at the marathon which the Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Tamwakat Weli, described as great and historic.

The theme of the Day for 2021 is: “Forest and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet’’.

Weli said the theme was apt as it encompassed attempts to conserve the environment for a balanced ecosystem.

“Plateau is blessed with the Jos Wildlife Park which is the largest zoological park in Nigeria and a famous tourism destination.

“The park houses indigenous and exotic wildlife species and other facilities for recreation for tourists,’’ he said.

The commissioner also noted that innovative events and programmes like the marathon would help to strengthen efforts at promoting ecotourism in the state.

In her remarks, Acting General Manager, Plateau State Tourism Corporation, Mrs Salome Bidda, said that the marathon was designed to encourage support for wildlife conservation at the Jos Wildlife Park.

“This marks the beginning of great commitment in conservation of wildlife, promotion of sports and healthy lifestyle,’’ she added.

Bidda said that with support from the state government, the Plateau State Tourism Corporation would roll out series of events annually to make the state the hub of ecotourism in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that athletes who participated in the marathon came from across the country and a few of them from neighbouring countries.

Some of them called for more races and other activities that would engage youths from all parts of Plateau.

The winner and the two runners-up at the marathon emerged from among Jos residents. (NAN)

By Monday Ajogun

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration will work with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to build a world class museum and promote tourism in the state.

Obaseki gave the assurance in Benin on Tuesday when he received the Country Director of UNIDO, Jean Bakole on a courtesy visit to Edo Government House, Benin.

He said that said the Benin Empire was very rich in arts and culture and had much to sell to Africa and the world at large.

The governor said that all the stolen artworks might not be returned but expressed readiness of his administration to work with UNIDO, other groups, to ensure the artworks are returned.

According to him, we have got support from major European museums in the world and we are doing documentation of the artworks globally, hoping to have worked significantly before the end of this year.

“The design for the museum is almost ready; hoping before the end of the year we would have worked significantly on that project.

“It can’t be done in four years’ term frame but within the frame work of a plan,’’ he said.

Earlier, Bakole said that the governor was doing greatly in developing the state.

He gave an assurance of UNIDO’s readiness to support Edo Government in its efforts to change the narrative of the state. (NAN)

By Priscilla Osaje

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) says constant training of its personnel on leadership and citizenship will go a long way to enhancing productivity in the tourism sector.

The Director- General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa said this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

Kangiwa said this when he received the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Mr Jonah Bawa in his office.

According to him, for any organisation to achieve its full potential in orientation and reorientation, such organisaton must focus on the mandate of the organisation, “which is key and germane’’.

He reiterated his determination in the training of staff and personnel for improvement of quality, efficient service delivery of their jobs in the institute.

He said that such would enable the institute achieve the core mandate for which it was established.

Kangiwa lauded the visit of the D-G of CLTC and the training the centre offered to military, para-military and civil personnel.

He said he would do all possible to explore the opportunity of sending staff of the institute to such training in the centre.

He said such training would acquaint them with the discipline, self-discovery, patriotism and commitment required of them to serve the institute.

He said it would help them to achieve the institute’s aims and objectives to benefit the larger society.

Earlier, Bawa said the centre, which was established to training military and para-military personnel under the name Man-O-War, was later changed for the training of both military and non-military personnel in leadership.

He said the leadership training inculcated the virtues of discipline, civic responsibilities, tolerance, endurance and good character under its current name ‘Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre’.

Bawa said that since the establishment of the centre about 70 years ago, it had trained all Nigerian military and para-military personnel in the course of their careers as a prerequisite for their graduation.

DG CLTC said that the centre had extended and expanded further the scope of its training activities to include all eligible working Nigerians irrespective of their background.

He said this was to enable them fit into and function well in the country for peace, understanding and national cohesion.

“The centre in addition to leadership and citizenship training, also undertakes reformatory and correctional training services for youths.

“The youths are engaged in militancy and restiveness and other social vices that threaten peace in the country,” Bawa said. (NAN)