In the Grandiose Parlor…

To show how little ‘tourism’ is understood in Nigeria, I once saw the website of one of the western states list a cenotaph as a tourist attraction in the state. To the undiscerning reader, there is probably nothing wrong with that statement — if the structure in reference was a pedestrian-accessible grand masterpiece sitting a well manicured landscape.

But this is not the case: The structure stood derelict, overgrown by weeds, at the intersection of three major roads!

That ‘touristic’ cenotaph can be found in Akure, Ondo state.

Recently, the Dr. Segun Mimiko, governor of that state signed a MOU with an Italian firm to build a 40-billion Naira tourism village in Ore. One would think the location has some natural ‘touristic’ characteristics that qualifies it as such. But there is none; Ore can be best described as a hub for commercial activities and vehicular traffic, since it sits along the Lagos-Benin expressway.

Those two instances are good pointers to how grossly misconceived tourism is in Nigeria. In fact, today, NEXT newspaper has on it website a thought-provoking editorial on tourism and the lack of visionary leadership that keeps the sector crippled in Nigeria, excerpts:

“There is no sense of vision…This is despite the fact that this is a nation that has made loud noise about its ‘Re-branding’ project…

“We talk ceaselessly about diversifying our economy – something that we must do if we must be economically viable as a nation in the coming non-oil future – but it is just one of those clichés that our officials mouth in times of boredom. Clichés in the mould of ‘good people, great nation’; while we do nothing to build on the goodness or to move towards greatness.

However, even if the economic results cannot be seen, how about doing this for the sake of “the children”? Tourism is an important part of nation building, a legacy for future generations, an important aspect of documenting and inculcating a sense of our shared history. Very unfortunately our country has not taken the time to record and research, so that it can preserve, historic sites and artifacts and other historical material, not even for photographic archives.”