US seeks stronger tourism ties with Nigeria

Mr Adam Ereli, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States on Monday stressed the need for stronger cooperation with Nigeria to boost tourism. Ereli spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to Chief Edem Duke, Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, in Abuja.

He said that the US was seeking for areas of greater understanding between the two countries to foster mutual economic agenda through tourism and education.

According to him, both countries can benefit from the youth exchange programmes of the US in promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage and preserving historic sites.

``Through the exchange programmes, young talented Nigerians can also be trained in the US in the area of film production,’’ Ereli said.

He said the exchange programmes being critical in addressing the countries’ mutual agenda would educate and empower people economically, especially the youth, to contribute to their communities.

He said, ``The goal of our programme is to empower people by giving them the tools they need to impact positively on the community they come from.

``Better their lives and that of their society because when you engage people you contribute to the society but when you disengage them you breed crisis.’’

He pointed out that Nigeria occupied a large percentage of the population of students undergoing training under the US Bureau of Cultural Affairs programme.

Ereli said that out of 20 Nigerian students trained yearly, ``the country can request for goodwill ambassadors corps, who will provide assistance to tourists visiting the country’’.

Responding, Duke identified culture and tourism as the most significant platform for advancing the cooperation between the two countries.

He said that there was the need to advance culture, as an enterprise, adding that it was a crucial area toward diversifying Nigerian economy.

Duke also expressed the need to explore the opportunities offered by cultural institutions to promote learning.

He said, ``We need to nurture talents and offer windows of expression for the upcoming and talented ones.''

The minister said that the cooperation would also promote fashion designing as a viable aspect of wealth creation for the country, adding that fashion was a signature of Nigeria’s creativity.

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