(Posted 23rd August 2024)
One of the world’s leading tourism ministers, Hon. Edmund Bartlett C.D, M.P, the Jamaican Minister of Tourism who is also the chairman of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre has congratulated the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria ATPN on the official flag off of its subnational chapter in Ekiti state.
In his remarks, Hon Bartlett commended the Ekiti state government for its unwavering dedication to advancing tourism in the state.
He posted that, “advancing and cultivating tourism offers a pathway to overcoming the obstacles or challenges that a landlocked geography might present e.g by generating employment and fostering economic development, enhancing infrastructure that benefit visitors and residents, showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to a broader audience, generating employment, offering a platform for local talents, products and services to gain exposure in global markets.
Ekiti is endowed with natural wonders and products with the potential to draw visitors from across Nigeria and beyond hence, investing in tourism infrastructure and effectively promoting these attractions can unlock substantial economic potential for the state.”
He concluded that through collective effort to highlight Ekiti state cultural and natural assets, opportunities to generate employment, stimulate economic growth and enhance the lives of its citizens can be leveraged to establish Ekiti state as a premier tourism destination and a model for sustainable development.
The Hon. Edmund Bartlett is global leader in tourism entrepreneurship, diversification, resilience and management. He was the former Chairman of the Board of United Nations World Tourism Affiliate Members and Vice Chair of the UNWTO Executive Council amongst several global leadership roles in his over 4 decades career.
The African Tourism Board Executive Chairman, Dr. Cuthbert Nsiphiwe Ncube congratulated the Board of Trustees and the national leadership of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria ATPN as he commended the Ekiti state Governor for his remarkable strides in tourism development for the state.
He made this remarks during the ATPN Ekiti chapter unveiling, noting the strategic vision of the state governor in developing Ekiti tourism.
He highlighted the beautiful tapestry of cultural tourism through the festivals, the Adire Ekiti Hub as well as the agro tourism derivative of the Cavista Holdings/Ekiti government cassava agro project amongst others.
In the same vein, the global leader congratulated the Board of Trustees of Nigeria’s oldest private sector tourism association, ATPN, for its untiring drive in pioneering expansion into subnationals thereby proliferating the economic and developmental benefits of tourism. He noted that ATB is well positioned and ready to explore synergies and collaborative opportunities with the association as well as the Ekiti state government.
Ekiti’s Time To Shine: Unveiling The Treasures Of Our Land — Senator Babafemi Ojudu
‘It is with great pride and anticipation that we gather here today for the inauguration of the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria. This is not just a celebration, but a significant step towards harnessing the immense potential of our state’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and historical significance.
When I was first approached about this event, I thought, “Finally! An opportunity to talk about something other than my favorite pounded yam joint in Ado-Ekiti!” But in all seriousness, today marks the beginning of something truly special for our beloved state.
You see, I’ve always believed that Ekiti is like that friend who shows up late to the party but steals the show once they arrive. We’ve got everything—majestic hills, waterfalls, warm and cold spring, pristine natural environments, warm-hearted people, and yes, the best pounded yam you’ll ever taste. Curiously enough, we’ve always been a little shy about showing it off. Well, folks, that ends today!
Tourism is not just about beautiful landscapes and historical landmarks—though we have plenty of those. It’s about storytelling. It’s about inviting others to experience the magic we live with every day. For example, have you ever tried explaining to an outsider why you can’t visit Ekiti without climbing one of our famous hills? They look at you like you’ve gone mad. But that’s the charm of Ekiti—our beauty isn’t just in what you see, but in how it makes you feel.
I also want to share a quick anecdote about a tourist who visited Ekiti State and was so captivated by the local cuisine that she actually decided to take a cooking class to learn how to make pounded yam and rorowo soup. Let’s just say, she may have underestimated the amount of pounding required and ended up with sore arms for the rest of her trip!
I remember a time when a friend from Lagos came to visit. He was expecting to breeze through our quiet state, take a few photos, and head back to the hustle and bustle. But by the end of the trip, he was plotting how to relocate here permanently. He couldn’t believe how relaxed and connected to nature he felt—something that seems to escape you when you’re caught up in the Lagos grind.
But that’s the beauty of tourism—it has the power to immerse us in new experiences, challenge our perceptions, and create lasting memories. I have no doubt that the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria will play a key role in making those experiences even more memorable for visitors to this beautiful state.
Tourism in Ekiti State has so much potential, and I believe that the establishment of this chapter will help unlock that potential and showcase the unique culture and attractions of the state to the rest of the world.
I too, standing in front of you, have been arrested by the serenity and beauty of Ekiti’s landscape. Though born here, I left in my teens in search of education and prosperity. I came back here fully less than a year ago and am no longer willing to live anywhere else.
Last March, at my birthday, I brought together a cornucopia of entertainers, local bards and musicians, performers, and age-old masquerades to celebrate with me. Till today, many of my friends and westernized family members are still envious of me.
Very soon, we shall inaugurate a world-class museum in memory of the renowned carver, Olowe of Ise. I hope many of you will join us when we gather in Lagos in October at the fundraising dinner for the museum, which we plan to locate on the grounds where Olowe lived and carried out his trade.
A couple of music-loving buddies and I, both local and foreign, have started talking about setting up a Museum of Drums that will bring here drums from all over the world to preserve for posterity.
So, let’s raise a toast to the future of tourism in Ekiti State and to the success of this new chapter. Here’s to many more hilarious and heartwarming moments, and to making Ekiti State a must-visit destination for travelers from near and far. Thank you, and congratulations to all the members of the Ekiti State Chapter!
As we inaugurate this chapter, we’re not just opening a new office or launching another association. We’re putting Ekiti on the map as a must-visit destination. We’re saying to the world, “Come, see, and fall in love with our land, our culture, and our people.”
So, here’s to the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria—to the adventures we’ll share, the stories we’ll tell, and the laughter we’ll bring to every corner of this state.
Thank you, and let’s make Ekiti the pride of Nigeria’s tourism!‘
Chairman of the Occasion, Mr. Kayode Olusemire’s Speech
‘I am indeed delighted and honoured to be a part of this auspicious occasion and august gathering. The timing of today’s event is apt as it coincides with the moment many Nigerians are facing multi-dimensional poverty. It also comes at a time governments at levels are doing everything to arrest the current challenges facing the country which are mostly economical.
The times in which we stand call for serious reflection from critical stakeholders, government officials and well-to-do citizens to come together to re-direct the ship of our country. The times also demand that all and sundry wear their thinking caps and fashion a way out of this present quagmire.
Bearing this in mind, tourism has been identified as one of the major drivers of economic development in different countries of the world. Hence, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in this regard particularly at a time that conversations around economic diversification are rife.
Take for instance, it has been projected that the travel and tourism industry will contribute about 62.8 billion U.S. dollars to the United Arab Emirates Gross Domestic Product by 2028. When countries are moving at the speed of light to boost their tourism potentials, Nigeria cannot take the back seat, taking into cognizance the array of heritage sites and monuments scattered across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
We must also admit that today’s event, the inauguration of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria, Ekiti State Chapter, comes at a time we are seeing the conscious and deliberate effort the Government of Ekiti state is taking to put the state on the global map in the area of tourism.
It is an unassailable fact that Ekiti is rich in culture, traditions and history. A journey round and through Ekiti also showcases the natural beauty of the state through vegetation, landscapes, mountains, rivers among others. Ikogosi warm spring speaks volume of the tourist potentials of Ekiti. The local cuisine too is a testament to the beauty of the cultural heritage of the people. All these put together are capable of creating the adventure which can ultimately transform the economy of the state. So, what we are doing here today, is no child’s play neither is it a tea party that one can trifle with.
We hope that this inauguration will serve as a game-changer in fostering unity among the people of Ekiti, strengthen the tourism capabilities of the state and bolster the finance of the state.
On this note, we charge the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria, Ekiti State Chapter, to embark on aggressive discoveries of more heritage sites and monuments, ensure the right use of the discovered ones forh the right purposes and most importantly, take this laudable feat beyond the precinct of Ekiti so that the world can know what the state stands for.’
Meanwhile has Nigeria earned a spot on the prestigious World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive Council, making an impressive comeback after nearly a decade!
