By DEJI ABDULWAHAB

The Federal Government says it remains committed to promoting Nigeria’s economic, cultural and tourism potential worldwide through a comprehensive national compendium highlighting opportunities in all states and the FCT.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated this when a delegation from the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), led by its Executive Secretary, Dr Dili Ezughah, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was to brief the minister on preparations for the official launch of the national publication scheduled for June 17 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Idris commended the NPC and its partners for conceptualising what he described as a timely and strategic national project aimed at projecting Nigeria beyond negative narratives.

“This project is important because it highlights the enormous economic and tourism potential of our country at a time when some people focus only on negative narratives about Nigeria.

“What you are doing is helping to showcase the rich opportunities that abound across the 36 states and the FCT,” he said.

The minister said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly efforts to diversify the economy through tourism, culture, investment promotion and expansion of the non-oil sector.

“We are not just known for oil; we are known for our rich culture, our tourism assets, and the immense opportunities spread across this country.

“President Tinubu understands the importance of culture and tourism in national development, which is why this administration has continued to give the sector renewed attention and focus,” he added.

Idris also commended the collaboration involving the NPC, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, and other stakeholders.

He described their collaboration as a reflection of the government’s commitment to partnership-driven national development.

“The President is opening up the economic base of Nigeria beyond oil, and the increasing international interest in our non-oil sector is a clear indication that the Renewed Hope Agenda is yielding positive results.

“This kind of documentation is essential because it provides investors and the international community with credible information about Nigeria’s economic strengths and opportunities,” he added.

He assured the delegation of the full support of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation toward the successful hosting of the launch event.

The minister further commended Vice-President Kashim Shettima for providing national visibility and institutional backing for the project.

“The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation is fully ready to support this national project because it will help reposition Nigeria positively before the global community.

“We also appreciate the personal interest of the vice president in ensuring that this initiative succeeds as a truly national undertaking,” the minister said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NPC, Dr Dili Ezughah, said the initiative was conceived following consultations aimed at strengthening collaboration among government institutions to positively project Nigeria globally.

“This project was inspired by the need to synergise efforts across government institutions to project Nigeria positively, and we are pleased that the Vice President has endorsed it as a national initiative.

“We have made substantial progress and are now at the final stage ahead of the official launch,” he said.

Ezughah explained that the publication would serve as strategic reference material for investors, diplomatic missions, development partners, chambers of commerce, and Nigerians in the diaspora.

According to him, it will provide detailed economic and tourism information on every state of the federation.

Also speaking, the Lead Consultant for the project, Mr Tajudeen Toyin-oke, disclosed that the compendium contained comprehensive profiles of all the states and the FCT.

According to Toyin-oke, this includes information on investment opportunities, tourism assets, mineral resources, population data, infrastructure, and business incentives.

“The compendium captures the economic and tourism profiles of all the 36 states and the FCT, including investment opportunities, tax incentives, mineral resources, and tourism assets for both local and international investors.

He added that the publication was designed to become a global reference document for credible information on Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NTDA, Dr Ola Awakan, described the initiative as a major step toward promoting Nigeria’s rich tourism and cultural heritage internationally.

“Nigeria is a microcosm of stories with enormous tourism potential, and this project will help change negative narratives while showcasing our strengths to the world,” he said.

The delegation informed the minister that President Tinubu is expected to write the foreward to the publication, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima will write the preface.

The launch is expected to attract governors, members of the diplomatic corps, investors, development partners and key stakeholders from across the country and beyond.

Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr Binyerem Ukaire, senior ministry officials and members of the project team. (NAN)

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