Edo state government has affirmed its commitment to participate and support Nigeria’s hosting of the the 61st Conference of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/Commission for Africa (CAF), billed for June 4-6.
The state governor, Godwin Obaseki, made the pledge in Benin when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed paid him a courtesy visit on Friday.
The governor who stressed the importance of tourism to Nigeria’s economy emphasised that the country is sitting on a goldmine.
"We believe that Nigeria has great tourism potentials. We understand that this is a goldmine we are sitting on. Even a goldmine needs to be taken to the factory to exploit the value before it can be of benefit" he said.
The governor said the UN tourism conference would provide the needed opportunities for the development of the tourism sector in the country adding that his state will maximize the full opportunity of the event.
"We will be participating and of course we will support you because it is in our interest that the event is successful," he said.
Obaseki noted that Edo state had rich history of civilisation to showcase to the world. He added that the conference would provide the opportunity for meeting and associating with experts across the globe on how to develop the tourism sector.
The governor also said his administration had started developing a tourism master plan and is in the process of inviting international experts to help design the tourism plan that will stand the test of time.
Speaking earlier, the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told the governor that Edo State as a whole could not be ignored in the "preparations for such a global tourism meeting as it is a repository of culture".
He promised a successful meeting with the support of stakeholders and the solid preparations of the various committees.