NTDC sold Nigeria in Germany - Hoisted Nigerian flag in Berlin - Oyo, Akwa Ibom, NIHOTOUR showed colour
By Wale Ojo-Lanre - updated: Wednesday 25-03-2009
President Umaru Yar’Adua“Your country Nigeria has been able to use tourism fairs and markets to polish and rebrand its hitherto negative image on the international scene in the last two years. The feat which your NTDC performed at the World Trade Market held in November 2008 in London, where its Director-General, Mr. Olusegun Runsewe, spoke positively about Nigeria to over 500 foreign journalists, the positive exposure in Spain in February 2009 and the hoisting of Nigeria’s flag at Messe Berlin this year, are testimonies and proofs that your country is not only great, but also a safe haven for tourists and investors.” - Adrian Biggs.
THE image of Nigeria as a lovely
country to behold, to invest and to visit was buoyed and its coast in terms of cultivating goodwill, respect, and regard in the comity of nations was boosted in Germany.
The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NDTC) under Otunba Olusegun Runsewe showcased the political, cultural and economic potential s of Nigeria to 187 countries at ITB Berlin.
The Nigerian delegates to this year’s 43rd ITB Berlin effectively sold and endeared the tourism potentialities of Nigeria to all the 187 participating countries with 11,098 exhibiting companies.
The first impressive move made by The NTDC at Messe Berlin which caught the attention of all the participating countries to Nigeria as a country of positivism was the hosting of Nigeria’s flag at the exhibition venue.
The Nigeria’s flag was not just hoisted but was positioned among the first 10 tourism notable countries at the A wing of the venue.
The hoisting of the flag at the A wing of Messe Berlin was a sign to the whole world that Nigeria is a credible country where Europeans can do business without fear.
This singular act of having Nigeria’s flag among flags of other nations cultivated great respect and good will to the Nigerian delegates led by Hajia Mohammed, Marketing Director, NTDC.
The hoisting of the Nigerian flag so impressed an international travel writers, Adrian Biggs, who could not hide his feeling than to say “Your country, Nigeria, has been able to use tourism fairs and markets to polish and rebrand its hitherto negative image on the international scene in the last two years. The feat which your NTDC performed at the World Trade Market held in November 2008 in London, where its Director-General, Mr. Olusegun Runsewe, spoke positively about Nigeria to over 500 foreign journalists, the positive exposure at Spain in February 2009 and the hosting of Nigeria’s flag at Messe Berlin this year, are testimonies and proofs that your country is not only great but also a safe haven for tourists and investors. - Adrian Biggs, International Tourism Journalists”.
Complementing the hoisting was the beautiful Nigerian stand located at Hall 20A, African section, where work of arts, articles, brochures, sovenirs, leathers, artefacts and posters which depicted things Nigeriana were displayed.
The Green-White-Green stand was gorgeously adorned with Nigerian leather works which made it a must visit.
Adding to this was the Plaza TV screen where the cultural, tourism and geographical assets of Nigeria were displayed.
The 2006 Abuja Carnival video displayed attracted many visitors while the Calabar Carnival and Tinapa video instigated a lot of inquiries.
The NTDC delegates were very proactive at this year’s ITB Berlin. Instead of them sitting at the stand without any effective role to play, they came with a roaster of duty which enabled some to be at the stand attending to visitors, while the others embarked on stand to stand selling of Nigeria not only as tourists haven but as investors’ minesfield.
Mr. Akin Onipede, Dr. Gerald Adewole, Mr. Kanayo Okoh and Musa utilized the five days at ensuring that almost all the participating countries took away a better aspect of Nigeria as a nation.
This strategy contributed to the influx of visitors to the Nigeria’s stand who came to confirm what the NTDC staff had told them about Nigeria during their visit to their stands.
The unusual deluge of visitors to the Nigerian stand elicited envy from other West African countries whose stands were located within the same hall. They could not understand the magic why the Europeans were talking about greater Nigeria and searching frantically for Nigeria’s stand.
Hajia Hajara Mohammed, Mrs. Salamatu Abubakar and Ody Anuba attended promptly to inquisitive visitors.
Akwa Ibom
Delegates
The Akwa Ibom delegate led by the General Manager of Pioneer, the State Newspapers, made the Nigeria's stand tick. They complemented the NTDC efforts with their traditional attire which became a spectacle of reference.
Akala at ITB Berlin?
No. Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala was not physically present at ITB Berlin. He was too concerned with the Appeal Court ruling. But from day one, the fliers of Oyo State tourism sites and developmental projects were circulated at ITB Berlin. A handiwork of the State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Alhaja Risikat Alabi and the Chairman, Oyo State Tourism Board, Otunba Adebayo Raji. They ensured that visitors to Nigeria’s stand went to their different countries with a flier containing what Governor Akala is doing about the tourism assets of Oyo state.
NIHOTOUR
Of all the other parastatals in the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture, only the National Institute for Tourism (NIHOTOUR) made an appearance. The institute was able to make contact with other tourism institutes at ITB Berlin.
Shame unto the private sector
Of course, the NTDC was able to sell Nigeria very well. The corporation did its best according to its charter of establishment. But it was a shame that the so called Nigerian tourism private sector could not make any appearance.
For other countries, members of private sector utilized the tourism fair to corner businesses and make contacts. But in the case of Nigeria, there was no single member of the private sector, despite the fact that the NTDC made several appeals to them to be part of the fair.
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