THE Federal Government on weekend challenged states, local governments and other stakeholder to key into the development of the nation’s tourism sector to create employment.

President Goodluck Jonathan gave the challenge while declaring open the seventh Abuja National Carnival in Abuja.

He said that the Federal Government on its part was committed to effectively diversifying Nigeria’s economic base, against the over dependence on oil and gas. Represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Jonathan stated that the government would be focusing on stimulating growth in such sectors of huge potential as agriculture and tourism.

He noted that the Abuja National Carnival had become one of the biggest cultural  and tourism products in Nigeria. He said the carnival required the strategic support of government and the engagement of the private sector to propel it to the level

where its great investment potential could be maximally exploited “I am glad to note that Abuja Carnival has proven to be one successful step in the direction of exhibiting Nigeria’s exceptionally rich and diverse cultural and artistic heritage as an untapped huge investment opportunity waiting to be meaningfully exploited.

“The Federal Government is committed to engendering the requisite enabling environment to promote the rapid and sustained growth of the tourism sector of our national economy,” he stated.

The president said that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism had evolved a strategic plan to meaningfully engage the organised private sector in the structured development of the sector as an integral part of the government transformation agenda.

He further noted that the Abuja carnival had come to create an enduring platform for the promotion of unity, peace, social cohesion and integration amongst the people, through the showcasing of the strength and beauty of the nation’s uniquely rich cultural diversity.

The President commended the ministry, and its agencies, the FCTA, and the Management Committee of the Carnival for not only sustaining the essence of the carnival but also for making each succeeding edition even a greater success than the preceding one.

In an address of welcome, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, stressed the need for the private sector to partner with the government

in boosting the nation’s tourism sector.

He disclosed that about 250 million people were employed in the tourism industry worldwide, while an estimated 1 billion people would be traveling worldwide in 2012 to boost the tourism sector. The Minister of State for FCT, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide, restated the resolve of the FCT Administration to continue to support and promote the Abuja carnival to boost tourism in Nigeria.

IITA’s cassava flour to save Nigeria N623b

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, has discovered a new cassava flour that will save Nigeria N623 billion annually in foreign currency. Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director-General of IITA, said this in Ibadan when he visited Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State. Sanginga said that the suitable cassava flour which the institute discovered, would replace wheat in the production of bread.

The IITA boss expressed the readiness of the Institute to partner with the state in the area of food production and security.

Gov. Ajimobi commended IITA for its contributions to food production and research development in Nigeria. He said that the citing of the Institute in Oyo added to the image of the state throughout the continent and beyond.

Ajimobi said that his administration would collaborate with the Institute in seed multiplication to boost food and crop production in the state. The Governor gave the assurance that the contract for the Ajibode Road, linking Orogun to IITA would be awarded before the end of the year.