By Frank Mekke
Experience is often regarded as the best teacher. Looking back over the past three decades, my involvement in the Nigerian tourism industry has been a bittersweet journey, filled with highs, lows, and moments of cold reality.
For those who have been part of this journey, you would agree that the Nigerian tourism narrative has been significantly shaped by the media. A special mention goes to Uncle Sam Amuka’s Vanguard Newspapers for its influential role. The vibrant travel media scene we see today owes much to the creative content produced by the indefatigable Ogbeni Tope Awe. Much like Apostle Paul, I have drawn from this well of wisdom and remain committed to this cause.
Many other dedicated individuals, not necessarily from the Vanguard family, have also joined in the crusade to portray our country positively. These unsung heroes have made significant contributions, even though many couldn’t see beyond the industry’s glamorous facade and eventually lost steam due to a lack of support from both the government and the private sector.
The anemic nature of the sector, despite our collective knowledge and efforts, remains daunting. Only a few of us have managed to weather the storm. There is no need for chest-thumping; I typically avoid the noise makers who intrude on our space with empty boasts. It’s both nauseating and disheartening.
We must silence those who seek to rewrite the history of tourism development for their own gain, using deceptive tactics to lure the uninitiated into their schemes. As history will attest, the Nigerian travel media has played a crucial role in our current standing. Many journalists have kept the sector alive, even as some government officials exploit it for their own benefit, claiming all is well.
Between 1991 and 1993, Vanguard Tourism endured developmental pains, paid the price, and led tourism advocacy courageously. Late Pa Ebaboji Da Silva stood with us, and his tourism soul rests in peace. Champion Newspapers, with my good friend Ayo Arowojolu, and Daily Times, with the knowledgeable Tijjani Adebisi, also contributed significantly. Even the current Olota of Ota was part of this evolution.
I won’t waste space addressing those who seek to score cheap points with hollow achievements. Some people come to the marketplace to shout and attract attention, not to sell genuine solutions. It’s irritating when individuals overestimate their importance, believing they can dominate a space where true leaders reign. It’s delusional and akin to the treachery of Judas.
We are still grappling with the sector’s anemic condition, betrayed by those who thrive on division. Their game is to undermine anyone with genuine self-worth while promoting themselves. No one is deemed good except them, and they spread lies and deceit.
We have openly and privately stated that our new minister in tourism will likely mark time and leave like her predecessors because she has been ensnared by the same confusionists. These individuals use her inexperience to further their own agendas, not the country’s or its people’s interests.
Nigerian tourism is not the focus of their mission. Recently, the minister gathered commissioners of culture and tourism in Abuja, a move shrouded in hypocrisy. The new commissioners and possibly new permanent secretaries are skeptical of the central authorities who have failed to support the sector meaningfully for years.
In 2006, when Otunba Segun Runsewe entered the tourism scene, he declared an end to talk shows and initiated practical, verifiable tourism projects. He eliminated ineffective operators and took all the tourism and culture commissioners to South Africa to witness successful sector transformations firsthand. Seeing is believing.
Runsewe gave the tourism media a global perspective and fostered positive tourism reporting in Nigeria, even establishing industry reporting on radio and television. This was a deliberate collaboration with the media, unlike today’s divisive press releases from government agencies. They can’t offer what they don’t possess.
It’s disheartening that today’s tourism leadership is surrounded by cronies whose only role is to flatter their superiors. It’s challenging to fulfill any tourism obligations to our nation when government-appointed leaders lack vision and mission aligned with our cultural tourism strengths.
A minister or agency head who uses their position to silence media feedback only breeds compliant reporters. There’s nothing new in terms of policy collaboration and interpretation that Runsewe hasn’t already implemented. Before leaving the culture sector, hurried out by an unfit minister, Runsewe gathered all culture and tourism commissioners to chart a new path. Is our current minister mimicking him? Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria President Nkereweum Onung has been tirelessly trying to unite the government and private sectors. Did the leaders at NTDA and NIHOTOUR listen?
The industry’s persistent adversity games are baffling. The attempt to tarnish the travel and tourism media’s image will ultimately fail. Tourism reporting is a spiritual endeavor; it can’t be suppressed, not even by the Internet. Traditional media has upped its game, and unless there’s a strategic agenda to prioritize national tourism marketing and promotion, as Runsewe demonstrated, Nigeria will continue to suffer from poor reportage.
I must also highlight the significant contributions of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) to the tourism space. Their efforts, from intra-African tourism agendas to exclusive Air Transportation and Sundry Industry Suppliers Expos, demonstrate what a well-organized private sector can achieve. It’s futile to pretend we’re celebrating World Tourism Day meaningfully when we know where the real issues lie.
Which government is bidding to host World Tourism Day in Nigeria if not to siphon funds from the governors, resources that could be better spent on feeding the hungry poor? Bid, indeed!
