HON PRINCE NED NWOKO TEAMS UP WITH NTDC TO REVOLUTIONALISE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN NIGERIAN.

...DONATES 1OOM TO PROJECT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT.

By Sparrow Adaeze with additional report by Iroroh Frank.

The Delta North Senator elect, and Nigeria's foremost tourism investor and promoter, Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko, has  once again taken revolutionary steps towards mass involvement of Nigerians in exploiting the tourism potentials in the country and develop them to the highest level of global attentions.

On 2nd April, 2019, the Star Prince of Anioma nation, as Prince Ned Nwoko is fondly called, took a giant step forward in his determination to consolidate on his efforts in tourism development in the country, by unveiling a national body, *PROJECT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT,* to analyse, plan and implement all the necessary steps aimed at ensuring all-round identifications of the tourism sites in Nigeria and tourism elements in the country, to harness them to grow the tourism industry in the country.

PROJECT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, is an initiative of Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko and the idea is been powered by Linas International Limited, a company owned by the Delta north Senator elect. The project is jointly promoted by Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation, NTDC.

Addressing the audience during the unveiling ceremony of the PROJECT, Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko said,
"Project Tourism is an initiative that has the potential of helping the country meets the increasing demands of her citizens. Through it, we can showcase our dance, food, culture and every element of the cultural Iife of our country.
In Nigeria, there is no organised sector with Government supports to promote tourism. Tourism must be nurtured, tourism must be put together, tourism must be taken care of," he emphasized.

Further, he added,
"In most civilised countries, Tourism contribute close to 70% of annual national earnings.
Today, we have come together to see how private sectors can help grow tourism in the country".

Continuing, he stated, "the primary mission of the PROJECT amongst other things, are to project the rich tourism asserts of Nigeria and to run profitable projects that will highlight the Country's hospitality culture as well as her rich Cultural endowments."

He went further to outlined the programme of the organization to include.

1. GRASSROOT SPORTS DEVELOPMENT.
This encompasses the involvement of all the Local Government Council chairmen across the country, who are to enter into talks with the PROJECT COORDINATORS, to ensure that Sports are included in their annual local government programme, because Sport is very important part of Tourism.
All the Local Government Areas in the country have to key into the PROJECT.
We should organise annual catch-them-young sports competitions to discover potential sports talents and train them.

2. ACCOMMODATION OF TOURISTS.

To encourage tourists to visit the country, the PROJECT have to find families who are willing to accommodate tourists and we will be supporting such families to make sure they have what it takes to host such guests.

3. CULTURAL VILLAGE.

The PROJECT have to ensure that every state identifies and supports villages in their state that are culturally and geographically rich in tourist features.
For example, in Delta state, Idumuje Ugboko has rich culture and geography features that are delight to behold. There is also Mount Ned Nwoko Tourists Resort. Such community should be identified and supported by the state.
We love our culture and traditions. Delta state have monuments and  tourist locations.
In a book on tourism sites in the state, it contains 27 tourist locations, incidentally, three (3) of these locations are in Idumuje -Ugboko.

4. THE GLOBAL ROAD SHOW.

As the name implies, it involves Nigerians coming together with responsibility of promoting Nigerian tourism. There will be Annual competitions where people win prizes. I know that a lot of money is needed to start the road show, we need committed people to help execute the programme. It is proposed to start July this year.

After spelling out the goals of the PROJECT and its areas of focus, Hon Prince Ned Nwoko donated the sum of  One Hundred Million Naira (N100m) to the PROJECT as a take off grant.

Responding to the address by the Chairman, its National Coordinator, Chief F. O. Anumba said, "I want to thank Hon Prince Ned Nwoko most immensely for initiating this laudable project, with this progressive collaboration between Linas International Limited and the Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation, NTDC, I have  no doubt that the time for tourism boom in Nigeria is now."

The media Launch of the PROJECT was held at BON Hotel, Elvis Abuja and was attended by many dignitaries and officials from National Tourism Development Cooperation, NTDC , Nollywood actors and actresses, like Ejike Asiegbu, Apostle Eucharia Anunobi, Chinda Monalisa, Francis Duru and others.

The organization that were present are; National Children's Park, Zoo Ambassadors, representatives of higher Institution, the Private and Public Primary and Secondary schools across the country.
Foreign missions in Nigeria were also well represented.

The media were not left out of the event   NTA, Galaxy TV, AIT, Channel TV LTV, News Agency of Nigeria and a host of others were there too.