Nigeria to make culture, tourism bedrock of economy

The Nigerian government has said it will make culture and tourism the bedrocks of the country's economy.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this known on Wednesday night at the gala night of the 2016 National Summit on Culture and Tourism in Abuja, the nation's capital city.

"In this summit, we have brought together all the people that can make the culture and tourism industry work," he said.

"We have stakeholders from both the public and private sectors that are well grounded in culture and tourism," he added.

The minister advised members of staff of the ministry and its agencies not to feel rejected given the current government establishments' structure.

He gave assurance that the sector would be made money spinner for government and the pride of among government establishments for public and civil servants.

Earlier in a welcome address, Ayotunde Adesugba, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry said the gathering would design ways culture and tourism would impact on other sectors.

She told her audience that the summit will highlight the critical sectors of culture and tourism with a view to create job opportunities and improve other sectors like agriculture, transport and manufacturing.

According to her, culture and tourism have become dominant sectors in many countries around the world and the drivers of their economies, noting that Nigeria must take the advantages of its rich, diverse and abundant culture and tourism potentials. Endit