Why we’re partnering African Pot on culinary tourism - Awolowo

Bankole Makinde, Abuja - 26.03.2008

Secretary, Social Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, on Tuesday said the secretariat is partering with the African Pot in staging the maiden edition of the Nigerian International Food Fair because of its belief that culinary tourism was an important factor in the rating of a country as a tourist destination.

He stated this while speaking at a press conference in Abuja to sensitise Nigerians on the activities lined up to ensure the suceessful staging of the fair which comes up between May 1 and 2, 2008

According to him, culinary tourism was heating up and gathering fast momentum as the new niche in tourism and an indispensable consequent in Travel and Destination Marketing

Represented at the event by the Director, Art and Culture of the Social Development Secretariat, Mrs Hannatu Atar, Awolowo said the initiative would be private sector-driven and attract about 20 different indigenous cooks from each of the 774 local government areas all over the country.

The Chief Driver of the Africa Pot, the organisers of the event, Mrs. Shimite Katung, said the idea was to sell Nigerian foods to people from all over the the world at a moderate price and to discover the lost Nigerian menu.