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.
Entertainment
Celebrated Singer, Rema, Features on Glo-Sponsored African Voices
Nigeria’s Afrobeat music star and multiple award-winner, Rema, will be featured this week on African Voices Changemakers, CNN International’s magazine programme, sponsored by telecommunications company, Globacom.
Born Divine Ikubor, the 24-year-old artiste from Edo State, discovered his passion for music as a church chorister and a rapper who entertained his peers in his secondary school, Ighile Group of Schools in Edo State.
Rema came into limelight after posting a viral freestyle on Instagram to D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang”. Wowed by his rare talent, D’Prince flew him to Lagos and offered him a record deal with Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by music executive and producer Don Jazzy. His 2019 hit “Dumebi” was the first fruit of the contract.
His international breakthrough happened in 2022 with his single “Calm Down”, which led to a remix with American singer Selena Gomez. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and first on Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
His talents have earned him several awards including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video and the Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Songs.
He was recognised for achieving 1 billion streams worldwide during his London concert on November 7, 2022 and he also performed at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Theatre du Châtelet in Paris, France on October 30, 2023.
The edition will be broadcast on Saturday at 8.30 a.m., with repeats at noon the same day. More repeats come up on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.00 p.m. and on Monday at 4.00 a.m.
Entertainment
Kellyrae Wins BBNaija Season 9, Wanni Emerges Last Woman Standing
Kellyrae, on Sunday night, was crowned the winner of this year’s Big Brother Naija Season 9, taking home the grand prize of N100million
He pipped the likes of Wanni, who emerged runer-up and Onyeka, who emerged as the runner-up.
The final featured Wanni as the last remaining contestant, with Kellyrae winning the competition with 35.95% of the votes. Onyeka emerged as the second runner-up, receiving 11.46 per cent of the total votes in the final show on Sunday.
Kellyrae now joins the likes of last season’s All-Stars winner Ilebaye Odiniya (Gen Z Baddie), to claim the grand prize.
Regarded as Nigeria’s most anticipated TV show, this season’s theme ”No Loose Guard”, which premiered on July 24, 2024, welcomed 14 pairs of housemates,
However, only one pair and six individual contestants made it to the final.
The other finalists were Victoria, Ozee, Sooj, Nelly, and Anita.
This year’s edition had an unusual twist as the participants were required to apply in pairs.
Among the eight finalists, Kellyrae, Victoria, and Wanni were considered favourites by many viewers to make the top three and earn final podium spots.
Though Wanni placed second, she proved to be talented. After Wanni expressed interest in acting, famous actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele recognised her talent and offered her a possible opportunity to work with her production team.
Entertainment
Glo Rewards Partners at Luxurious Event in Lagos
Globacom, Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital solutions services provider, on Thursday treated its business partners across the country to a luxurious ceremony in Lagos. The event was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.
At the event, Globacom honoured its top-performing partners that fulfilled all regional and national deliverable requirements with millions of naira in recognition of their outstanding work.
A total number of 71 partners were rewarded in two broad categories, with the winners receiving millions of naira in cash prizes. Category 1 comprised 22 Activation Award winners and 33 Divisional Recharge winners.
In Category 2, 16 partners were rewarded for outstanding performance at the national level. They included partners who performed excellently in Sponsored Data and Activation and those who won national awards in the Recharge category.
The event was held to “honour not just individual successes, but the collaborative spirit that drives innovation and growth”, according to a statement from Globacom. It added that each of the partners “continues to play crucial roles in Globacom’s mission to empower people and businesses, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in telecommunications”.
Globacom shared with them its current and future projections to grow the company and maintain a win-win partnership with the business partners and promised to constantly take their interest and that of other stakeholders into account in all of its plans and projections.
“We are excited about the future, of our continued partnership in serving our customers, fulfilling their needs and helping them achieve their ambitions. We count on you all to be by our side all the way”, the company reiterated to the business partners.
Globacom, which recently clocked 21st, noted that it has grown from being a telecommunications service provider to becoming a Digital and Technology Company, leading the drive into Nigeria’s digital future. It promised to continue to explore unlimited opportunities to serve the customers by investing heavily in the latest tools and technologies.
The company recently unveiled My-G which gives subscribers more data value and more freedom to explore their passions. It has also reinvigorated the Glo Cafe app to give subscribers total control and access to entertainment, gaming, data solutions and other VAS services on their mobile devices. Glo also enhanced the Berekete tariff plan to give unparalleled juicy benefits to subscribers, ensuring that every new business innovation, product and service bring Glo customers one step closer to their goals.
However, the partners had a terrific time being entertained, so the event wasn’t just about business presentations and prizes. Lilian Yeri Danceworld, an all-female dance company with a lot of versatile dance movements, was available to entertain the guests.
Celebrated musician, Flavour, also brightened up the evening with great music, adding color to bring the celebration to a close. Several guests joined him on the dance floor to enjoy his songs and flow along with his captivating performance.