A global tourism advocate and erstwhile Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ekiti State on Tourism Development, Amb Wale Ojo-Lanre has applauded the collaboration between The Polytechnic, Ibadan and Capricon Concierge Tourism Service Ltd., aimed at training, creation and engaging 5000 youths yearly in tourism jobs and allied activities.
Amb Ojo-Lanre was a Special Guest of Honour and also represented Hon Akeem Ademola Ige Special, the Adviser to the Governor of Oyo State on Tourism, Culture and Arts at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between The Poly Consult, a business arm of The Polytechnic Ibadan and Capricon Concierge Tourism Services Ltd, held at the EXCO Chamber of the institution on Monday commended The Polytechnic Ibadan for playing a pathfinder role at unveiling the practical academic process of how tourism can generate employment and also engage the unemployed.
Amb Ojo-Lanre said “when we talk about tourism being capable of generating so numbers of jobs and empowering so numbers of people, most people believe we talk in vague. But today, The foremost Polytechnic in Nigeria and the foremost tourism services conducting company in Nigeria are partnering to put into practice some of those talks which people believe are mere theories.
Amb Lanre disclosed that “I am particularly happy that I am a witness to this event, a domestic tourism empowerment program named The Business of Domestic Tourism, which is a 3 monthly program that would be run concurrently as a professional course. The course is tailored to provide jobs after completion and empower 5000 unemployed youths in the domestic tourism sector.
He said, “This novel and the ingenious programme could not come at any other time than this when the nation is searching for ways of mobilising millions of youths out of the concrete jungle of unemployment.”
Amb Ojo-Lanre testified to the integrity and pedigree of Capricon Concierge Tourism Services Ltd and called on the management of Poly Consult to ensure the early commencement of the programme, which would teach, enlighten, encourage, expose, empower and engage the unemployed on how to start earning responsible income in the domestic tourism sector and also enable the students to be engaged in a job which guaranteed regular income after completing the training.”
The signing of the MOU was conducted between The Polytechnic and Capricon Concierge by a strong team led by Mrs Olubunmi Olubamiwa, Deputy-Rector of The Polytechnic Ibadan, on one hand, and Mr Ibitayo Araoye for the Capricon team on the other hand.
The event was witnessed by the Zonal Director, South West, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), and Mogaji Soladoye Adewole, PRO, of The Polytechnic Ibadan, among others.
