Entertainment
Opinion: Madam, Let’s Cook the Tourism Food!
By Frank Meke
There is no doubt that Minister of Tourism, Madam Lola Ade-John would need good and experienced hands to navigate the Nigerian tourism ocean. It is a war-like situation, a national tourism emergency campaign, and if we ignore it, we perish.
It’s indeed, a matter of serious concern that she must intentionally get into the grove on the right side of the business and the first thing to do is to evaluate the human capacity availability needed to drive the process.
Madam Lola Ade John is on the short take in this area and there’s no denying that it’s a huge burden. So how do the industry and the federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria help?
However there are those who may point to the existence of ntda and Nihotour, the only two agencies the ministry of tourism inherited from the old Ministry of Information, culture and national orientation. How that even came to be is a subject for another day, but be it as it may, both Nihotour and ntda have their own short supply of adequate and competent manpower.
It’s critical to also access, evaluate and determine the quality of staff needed to engage properly and deliver on the national tourism space.
We have seen some kind of presidency expectations and target deliverables from other Ministries with performance bonds signed by ministers and their subordinates trailing their target assessments and expected contributions to socioeconomic advancement of the country
Yes, our madam minister was not on the field when those processes were made the face of performance ecosystem by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it however does not mean that Tourism was exempted from being one of new economies calibrated to create jobs and empower the people.
Madam Lola Ade John must first let us know the expectations of this administration on the basis of those two economic deliverables, the tourism jobs to be provided yearly and other empowerment metrics for Nigerian people.
How much can tourism generate to the economy in material terms and value, including jobs openings and rural development in six months, one year or so on?
What drives it and how much do the ministry need in from each budget circle to deliver on the national expectations?
Indeed tourism budgeting is unique in its own and sometimes difficult to defend due the variables associated with its profiling.
So madam Lola Ade John needs serious help to engage all the needed enablers to power the sector to certain realities that can excite the president and Nigerians at large.
It would be suicidal to just leap frog into the dynamics of the sector, with unknown portfolio shenanigans or be influenced with eurocentric blue prints as no tourism development and marketing plan bears same stamp of sensibilities.
Honestly, it would have been a step in the right direction if those who managed our tourism issues in the old contraption, did have a hold on its metrics or rubrics. Unfortunately, they failed and that’s why when president Buhari came with his brooms, he found am empty cupboard in the tourism ministry and swept us into the information conundrum.
If I were madam Lola Ade John, I will be circumspect when the ” left over staff” from the old ministry put forward memos to me. Seriously, I doubt if our minister apart from inheriting ntda and nihotour, really have any serious well trained and exposed tourism hands to run the ministry.
At the on set of the creation of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture during President Obasanjo era, ntdc( I doubt the wisdom behind ntda) had some of the best industry technocrats. Then we could count and rely on the wisdom and expertize of Mr Christopher idu, irrepressible John Adzer, and Bade Adelegbe
These gentlemen are still alive today and made a ntdc the dream government tourism agency. I recall that our first minister, late Ojo maduekwe relied on the competence and administrative knowledge of Christopher idu to flourish the set up that ministry.
Two decades after or more, the scenario has changed. Ntdc ( ntda) has lost the services of the experienced and upright technocrats either due retirement windows or outright neglect to expose the staff to training and restraining opportunities.
In this business, highly dynamic and scientifically evolutionary due to various socioeconomic, political and health variables, some unpredictable, training and consistent retraining of tourism personnel within and outside the country should top sustainable industry management ecosystem.
Unfortunately, that muddled up the human capacity requirements and availability in government tourism circles, particularly between 2013 till date.
Ntdc ( ntda) which used to be the hunting grounds for experts has been run aground by the most despicable political elements appointed and selected to run its affairs since 2013.
I need not waste my ink to state that madam Lola Ade John should not waste valuable time, hoping that the leopard at ntda will bear any tourism magic. He aren’t got the will or zeal to bring about anything worthwhile.
The guy is a time waster and should be ignored and allowed to mark out his remaining ten months in office in his delusional prison. What a shame!
It is ok for the minister to confess that the assignment will be tasking since she doesn’t have the background, it is worrisome that the permanent secretary is also a freshie. That not withstanding, both can search out for competent and tested hands on tourism with civil service orientation to help bear directions and organize development strides.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is showing example in this regard, wooing experts and hunting for their experience to bring about solutions to our national problems.
Apart from the Bade Adelegbe, Christopher idu and John Adzer, earlier mentioned, Ashamu fadipe , a former tourism centric permanent secretary in Lagos ministry of Tourism with deep academic and practical exposure to local and international tourism development can be invited either on a short or long term as consultant to calibrate the ministry.
Before I am accused of shopping for jobs for these guys and others, it’s also important for madam minister to sit down with ftan to look at the private sector for those with verifiable experience and deliveries on tourism matters and tap from their successful blueprints and abilities.
If madam minister fails to get the best hands, independent minds to help her navigate this process, then we shall be back again to the tourism wilderness conundrum and we have ourselves to blame, not the president or the devil either.
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria has voiced strong objection to ban imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s trending song, “Tell Your Papa.”
The IPMAN President, Pretty Okafor, emphasised that the ban was likely to backfire, as it only serves to amplify the song’s reach and relevance in light of the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians.
Okafor stated: “The first major mistake is banning the song because it’s going to make the song even go viral right now. Those who haven’t heard about the song or haven’t even listened to it will go now to look for the song and will start promoting it. The song has practically pinched the government somewhere, that’s why they ordered for the ban. So, there is already a mistake that has been made by the NBC or even the government by paying attention to that particular song.”
Discussing PMAN’s position on the matter, Okafor remarked, “We don’t have the power to offer the artiste support right now because it is a very sensitive issue, so, we need to be careful. We will just be watching because people are dying and the suffering is too much. How do we repair the economy? We cannot pretend that all is well. The song is telling us the truth, and there is nothing wrong with that song.”
The NBC barred Nigerian radio and television stations from airing the trending song, “Tell Your Papa,” by popular rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, citing its “objectionable nature.”
In a memo dated April 9, 2025, and issued by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the commission declared the track “Not To Be Broadcast” under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
This section prohibits content deemed inappropriate, offensive, or in breach of public decency from being aired on Nigerian broadcast platforms.
According to NBC, while the song had gained momentum across social media platforms, its lyrical content failed to meet the standards of responsible broadcasting.
The statement titled, “Restriction on broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem,” reads, “The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social media, as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature.
” It is, therefore, classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
The controversial song, released earlier this week, targets Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, calling on him to confront his father over the worsening socio-economic conditions in Nigeria.
In the track titled “Tell Your Papa,” which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Abdulkareem delivered a blunt message, painting a grim picture of the hardships facing everyday Nigerians.
The song comes in response to Seyi Tinubu’s recent comments in Adamawa State, where he described his father as “the greatest President in Nigeria’s history.”
In the hard-hitting lyrics, Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.”
“Seyi, how far? I swear your Papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.
“Seyi, try travel by road without your security, make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, last Sunday sponsored the premier of Radio Voice, the much-anticipated movie produced by Richard Mofe-Damijo.
At the event held at the Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mofe-Damijo described the movie as “the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. It’s about the life of people on radio and their challenges and the things they have to go through; cyber bullying and the like, and succeeding against all odds. I don’t want to reveal everything about it; it’s a movie everyone needs to watch”.
Explaining why he is venturing into movie production, he explained, “It’s time when it’s time, you know. I’ve produced before but this is the first time in the new era, so to speak”.
Since launch in 2003, Globacom has carved a niche as the biggest corporate supporter of Nigeria’s entertainment industry. The company has signed on many musicians, actors and comedians as brand ambassadors, sponsored several entertainment reality shows including X Factor, Glo Naija Sings, Battle of the Year and Dance with Peter, and also hosted several music and comedy shows across Nigerian cities to avail talents in the industry the grace to their gifts.
Radio Voice is a motivational story of resilience, passion and transformation. It features notable Nollywood giants including Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), who equally produced the movie; Nse Ikpe Etim, Nancy Isime, Deyemi Okanlawon, Damilola Adegbite and Timini Egbuson.
Radio Voice has the support of the Office of the Vice President as it is meant to complement the Federal Government’s investment in the Creative Arts and Digital Transformation.
Afrobeat music singer, Davido, has announced that his Church wedding with Chioma will take place in August, 2025.
The singer disclosed this in a recent interview with The Breakfast Club.
He likened the upcoming event with the traditional marriage in Nigeria, which he said was a “Carnival”.
Davido said: “I’m doing my white wedding in Miami (USA) in August. The wedding I did was traditional; it was like a carnival in Nigeria, like a holiday. The whole world stood still. Me and my wife’s relationship was in the public eye, especially after I did that one song.
“So, a lot of things happened. Even apart from losing our child, I messed up a lot of times so that full circle moment everyone was like finally she can get what she deserves.”
