By Daniel Eteghe

Director General of the Nigerian Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji  Munzali Dantata has said, exporting Nigerian foods to other countries would promote the country’s cultural heritage.

Speaking at a one-day seminar with the theme “Promoting Nigerian Cuisine beyond Borders”, Dantata who was by a Director in the agency, Ms. Ladi Dakwo noted that exporting Nigerian cuisines abroad would bring a lot of foreign earnings to the country.

At the event organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Lagos recently, Munzali said that food was a part of Nigeria’s culture which could be spread across the globe adding that with Nigerian food exported abroad, the country could gain more in promoting her image abroad.

He explained that the global food packaging industry was worth about $100 billion representing about ten to fifteen percent each year adding that Nigeria needed to tap into such industry.

Ladi , however, said that with the help of NEPC, she was confident that Nigerian foods would be properly packaged and presented to the international market.

“The fact that we are all present here today is indicative of our collective resolve to evolve a vibrant and sustainable hospitality and tourism sector.”

Also speaking at the event, the ED/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. David Adulugba , affirmed that the event was aimed at promoting the hospitality industry across Nigeria borders.