No fewer than 50 vibrant Ekiti youths in tourism would enjoy a series of training, intellectual empowerment and exposure from the ambience of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Abuja.
According to the NTDC Director-General, Mr Folorunso Folarin Coker, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is one of the very few State Governors who comprehend the import of tourism and who has been so strategic at establishing a sustainable platform for tourism to blossom in Ekiti.
Coker, who made this revelation in his office in Abuja while receiving in audience the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ekiti State on Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre who paid him a courtesy call, said that Governor Kayode Fayemi has not allowed the pressure demands from other sectors from paying attention to the tourism sector.
He said that he had keenly monitored the development in the tourism sector in the state, right from the recreation of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, the establishment of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism Development and the setting up of Tourism Strategic Committee pointed that these are brainwork of a tourism conscious individual.
Coker disclosed that he had also read various reports on the pristine and spectacular tourism potentialities in the state, which include the newly discovered Abanijorin Rock in Iyin, the Potsherd Pavement in Imesi Ekiti, Mountain of Clouds in Efon Alaye, the Source of Osun River in Igede, the Palm Tree with 42 heads in Ilogbo Ekiti and many others which need to be packaged globally for visibility.
The NTDC DG pointed out that Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari is a value-added tourism event capable of drawing thousands of visitors to the state through hikers interstate and continental engagement.
He applauded Governor Fayemi for embracing Private-Public Partnership in the management of Ikogosi Warm Spring, Fajuyi Park and Arinta Waterfall, Ipole Iloro which have been a concession to the private companies.
Coker promised it was in line to reinforce Governor Fayemi’s tourism stride in Ekiti that 50 Ekiti youths would benefit from NTDC capacity building for youths in the tourism sector.
He disclosed that the youths would acquire skills in branding, marketing, packaging and digital media exposure of Ekiti tourism assets.
Coker, who promised to pay an official visit to Ekiti State to eat original pounded yam, said that pounded yam is Ekiti’s niche of the Nigerian Flavours.
He affirmed that NTDC would collaborate, assist, promote and market Ekiti tourism potential because the Governor is strategically positioning the tourism sector in the global market and consumption.
Ambassador Ojo-Lanre, who congratulated Mr Coker for his reappointment as the DG, NTDC, stressed that his visit to Abuja was also to seek contact collaboration, networking and assistance for Ekiti tourism development from NTDC.
