Anambra State Govt Restates Resolve To Reposition Tourism Sector

Anambra State Government has assured its readiness to improve the tourism sector and make it more lucrative in order to shore up the revenue base of the state

The Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, Mr. Don Onyenji gave the assurance while receiving delegates from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture Abuja and National Commission for Museum and Monuments.

the delegates are on a visit to carryout further research of the legendary Ogbunike Cave already on the tentative list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.

Commissioner Onyenji and the team toured round the cave assisted by tour guides who explained many wonders of the natural monument .

In his speech, Commissioner Onyenji reassured state government’ readiness to ensure that Ogbunike cave and other tourist attractions in the state meet global standard, adding that tourism industry is very lucrative outside Nigeria and the Ministry under his watch would attract the desired recognition.

The Commissioner explained that Professor Soludo’s drive to develop the state’s tourism is to showcase Anambra’s historical and cultural endowments to the outside world.

Speaking after the tour, the Assistant Chief Cultural Officer, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Blessing Onwughalu said that the federal government is collaborating with Anambra state government and Ndi Ogbunike inorder to make Ogbunike cave not just a national monument but international heritage site.

While noting that tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing economicr sector in the world, Mrs. Onwughalu noted that the Soludo’s led administration is working in tandem with the federal government to ensure that Ogbunike cave becomes a tourist attraction .

The Assistant Chief Heritage Officer, National Commission for Museum and Monuments, Dr. Ijeoma Onyejekwe, said the cave must meet the cultural heritage impact assessment and Environmental Impact assessment as well as outstanding universal values to be declared a world heritage sites, which according to her will not only benefit Ndi Ogbunike but also the state and Nigerians in general.

In his remark, the Assistant Chief Cultural Officer, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr. Tochukwu Okide, thanked the state government for the warm reception, assuring to work with the state to ensure that the cave is brought to standard of the world heritage site.