By Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

The Plateau State Government has reiterated the commitment to reposition the tourism sector in the State, create employment, and make Plateau live up to being called the Home of Peace and Tourism.

The State Commissioner for Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality, Jemila Bitrus made this known at a press conference ahead of the E-Tourism Business Awards and Conference 2024 organized by the Mall of Fame Nigeria with the support of Somwhere Hospitality hub and billed to take place in Jos.

The Commissioner who said the State was exploring options to add value through tourism noted that the theme of the event, “Global Tourism Ambassador Awards,” was appropriate as “the State is the hub of tourism in Nigeria and Governor Caleb Mutfwang was poised to rebrand the tourism sector to empower the youths and create wealth.”  

The Director General of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Afiz Ogun who also spoke at the event stated that the Fund which has empowered Nigerians with skills in the tourism and hospitality industry is committed to doing more to ensure the country gets the maximum benefits from the sector.

The DG, represented by the Fund’s Director of Corporate Planning, Suleyol Chagu disclosed that the ITF was planning a new era for artisans tagged Skill-up artisans to equip them with relevant skills to add value to the tourism and hospitality sector.

She said, “The ITF has been empowering youths and contributing to the Plateau State and national economy in various ways. We have an ongoing collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Hotels and Tourism, NIHOTOURs.

“We have been training Nigerians in catering and hotel management for years and it is always included in our training to provide them with start-up packs for their businesses.

“We will not relent from carrying out our mandate, we are working out ways of leveling up the skills of Nigerians with the Skill-Up Artisans, SUPA which will be unveiled soon. We will continue to offer our support to support the tourism and hospitality sector.”

Earlier, the Convener, E-Tourism Business Awards and Conference 2024, Joseph Komolafe, Macdonald Funbial of Somwhere Hospitality Hub, and the State Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. William Audu, among others insisted that tourism is more than a pleasure and is a big revenue earner that cannot be overlooked.

Komolafe who said the event will be held in April 2023 maintained that Plateau has all it takes to sustain its tourism potential hence the choice of the State to host the second edition of the event was deliberate as recent research shows that businesses are returning to the State and youths would be trained to take interest in tourism as a business.

He charged the State government to develop the tourism sector and see the lost glory of the State restored saying tourism as a business is raking in millions of dollars to other countries hence Nigeria and Plateau can’t be an exception.

Audu explained that Plateau has the weather, food, and everything that can control medical tourism and create employment opportunities hence the need for more attention to be paid to the tourism sector.