By Blessing Otobong-gabriel
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has emphasized the importance of incorporating tourism, creative, and cultural industries into the country's curriculum.
The Minister disclosed this at the thematic conference on boosting social impact and education in tourism through innovation, AI, and creative industries in Africa that this move aims to unlock the potential of these sectors and drive economic growth.
"One crucial aspect that bears mentioning is education. Incorporating tourism and the importance of creative and cultural industries into the curriculum, particularly within the Justice School, could be beneficial.
"This is because culture plays a significant role in promoting tourism, and tourism, in turn, can drive economic growth. By educating young people about the value of their cultural heritage and traditions, we can empower them to appreciate and preserve their roots".
According to her, This education can also encourage young people to explore opportunities in the creative and cultural sectors, ultimately contributing to the growth of Nigeria's tourism industry."
"One of the things I forgot to mention earlier on is the issue of education. I think if you bring down to base the education within the curriculum, within the Justice School curriculum, about tourism and about the need for young people to engage in the creative industry or in the cultural industry, because it is the culture that really propagates the tourism and within tourism as well, that really will help. And part of that education is also for young people to go back to our values and our traditions and our cultures".
She also stated that hospitality is a vital aspect of Nigerian culture, and our tradition of respect plays a significant role in it. To leverage this, our young people should balance embracing modern trends with preserving traditional values like showing respect to elders. This blend of old and new will foster a warm and welcoming environment for tourists.
Speaking on innovation, she said artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly impact our tourism industry, but we need regulations to ensure it benefits us positively. While AI can process information quickly, it's essential to preserve the authenticity and uniqueness of our creative works.
Hannatu noted, " to drive growth in the creative and tourism sectors, we need Initiatives like the Creative Economy Development Fund to support small and medium-scale businesses, promoting economic growth, saying collaboration between government agencies, private sector organizations, and cultural institutions is crucial for success.
Also UN Tourism Secretary-General, Hon Zurab Pololikashvili said the world has a limited understanding of Africa, but that's why we're here – to leverage tourism for security, culture, and peace. Despite 58 ongoing conflicts worldwide, tourism plays a vital role in promoting peace and understanding and today, we're combining education, innovation, and creative industries to drive growth.
According to him, Nigeria's diversity is remarkable, with 230 languages and cultures. This diversity is a strength, but it requires support and investment to unlock its potential. Talent is abundant in Africa, particularly among young people, but they need access to resources like computers, books, and the internet to develop their skills.
"We've made progress in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, but more needs to be done. Our forums and conferences provide a platform for discussion and collaboration".
He said, "Tourism requires patience, hard work, and long-term investment. We've developed a 10-point plan to transform Africa's tourism sector, and I'm confident that with collective effort, we can achieve great things. Let's continue working together to promote tourism, innovation, and economic growth in Africa.
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