The Lagos State Government says it is committed to showcasing the tourism
Potential of the state to attract tourists and investments.
This is just as the state government commends the organizer of the Akwaaba African Travel Market (AAfTM) Mr. Ikechi Uko for his consistency of the program for 14 years.
Declaring the program open, the Lagos state Commissioner, Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, represented by its Permanent Secretary, Fola Adeyemi, said the event affords people of like minds to brainstorm especially tourism experts on issues that can help in the promotion of tourism and development in Africa.
“The conception and sustenance of the annual Akwaaba African Travel Market is indeed, worthy of commendation as the platform has consistently provided an avenue for enriching and thought provoking treatise”.
“To this end, I must commend Ambassador Ikechi Uko, the organizer of the Expo for his foresight and resilience in sustaining the hosting of the event which is the only travel and tourism Expo endorsed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).”
The commissioner emphasized that, the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would continue to support the program,”It is expedient to note that Lagos State government, through the gracious approval of the Art-loving governor is partnering with the organisers of Akwaaba for the first time in hosting of this exhibition. This is in affirmation and demonstration of this administration’s commitment to engage and collaborate with the private sector in the promotion of tourism in the state”.
“We have also been engaging and partnering with the private sector in promoting Lagos as a prime destination with the private sector, we have actually supported private organizations in the entertainment and tourism sector and in some cases, engaged with them in organizing social events to promote movement of people into the state. We consider it essential to deploy resources to support these social events in spite of constraints in available resources, so that they would become more competitive and sustainable”, he added.
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, popularly called Mama Bakassi who was also the special guest of honour in her opening remarks said she was always happy to attend the event which had helped to promote tourism in Nigeria and the entire Africa continent.
He urged Mr. Ikechi Uko to keep up the good work and continue to make Nigerua and Africa proud.
