Tourism Connects People, Unifies Economic Activities, Says Osinbajo
- VP Osinbajo has stated that tourism is sustainable and it connects people from different backgrounds
- The Nigerian vice president made the comment while explaining how the country's music transcends language
- Osinbajo made the comment at the opening of the first United Nations World Tourism Organisation Global Conference in Lagos
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Lagos - Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has said tourism is possibly the most profound unifier of all economic activity and because its vast components are local and home-grown, they are more likely to be sustainable.
Prof. Osinbajo made the comment in Lagos on Tuesday, November 15 where he represented the President Muhammadu Buhari at the opening of the first United Nations World Tourism Organisation Global Conference.
Source: Twitter
The theme of the event was: ''Linking Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries: Pathways to Recovery and Inclusive Development."
Speaking on the prospects in the tourism industry in Nigeria and beyond, the vice president said:
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“Tourism opportunities and jobs are inclusive, cutting across all income segments, from the millionaire entertainers to janitors in hotels.”
Referencing breakthroughs by Nigerian entertainers making waves across the world, the VP noted that:
“Tourism provides us, humans, a means of achieving the deepest desires of our hearts, enjoying the companies of people all around the world, reaching across race, colour and language to connect with our common humanity.
“Music is a global language, even people who don't know the meaning of the words of a song enjoy the rhythm and some find out meanings of lyrics, discovering the cultures and ideas that inspired them.
“Today, Nigerian music, rendered in Nigerian languages is played all over the world. So, people all over the world are dancing to Kizz Daniel's Buga. The phrase “Buga Won” is a Yoruba expression, it means flaunt your hard-won success. “Collect your money,” means take the fruits of your work.
“Many all over the world are squaring up their shoulders, saying it doesn't matter how hard it may seem, let me see you dance and show off your success no matter how small it may seem to others, Buga Won! And he (Kizz Daniel) will be performing the song at the Qatar World Cup in a few days.
“Burna Boy, a Nigerian Afrobeat star performed in front of 70,000 people in Finland, at Finland's Flow Festival 2022. Singing songs like “Last Last, he don cast, na everybody go chop breakfast” in pidgin English to a cheering Scandinavian audience is the power of music.
“The song is also the first Afrobeat song to have sold over 500 thousand units in less than 17 weeks after its release in the United States of America.
“Another Nigerian artist, Asake who sings in pidgin, sang the song Organize. Now, these are street slangs in Lagos, but the world loves it and his show at the O2 Arena in the UK sold out to an international audience in less than 5 mins!”
To drive home his point, the VP led his audience in singing the songs, while noting that:
“The promotion and preservation of cultural sights, forests, natural life, and aquaculture for tourism purposes works well with our zero carbon ambitions.
“It teaches a whole new generation to love and respect and protect our beaches, and natural life and at the same time create jobs and livelihoods in doing so.
“This is the perfect balance that would enable us to live long and enjoy all of God's endowments in nature in peace and prosperity.”
Earlier in his remarks, minister of information, culture and tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the hosting of the first UNWTO Conference is a testament to the Buhari administration's commitment to the diversification of the economy.
On his part, the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, acknowledged Nigeria's role in the global tourism industry, noting that it offers immense potential for growth, innovation and product diversification.
Ajibode Olawale: Osinbajo's pride in Nigeria's music industry, worthy of emulation
On his part, Ogbeni Ajibode Abd'kabir Olawale, National Publisher, Osinbajo Youths Initiative of Nigeria, has said the vice president's magnanimous love and pride for the the success of Nigeria's music industry is worthy of emulation.
He said the vice president whom has always over the time proven to be one of Nigeria's finest professional intellectual, politician and public figure.
Olawale noted that Osinbajo always take it upon himself to always showcase his unwavering support and pride in Nigerians doing very well in their various endeavours.
Seize this moment, achieve your dreams, Osinbajo tells first set of Jubilee Fellows
Recall that the first set of beneficiaries of the federal government backed Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) were recently assigned their one-year paid jobs.
Delivering a keynote address at the NJFP onboarding event for the first batch of beneficiaries on Thursday, November 10, Osinbajo urged the participants to seize the moment and achieve their best dreams.
The vice president stated that the federal government will continue to provide platforms to empower young Nigerians with strong employability skills which can be deployed to solve national and global socio-economic challenges.
Source: Legit.ng
