THE concept of the Nigerian village  built in Johannesburg, South Africa, by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to promote, showcase and sell the country’s rich tourism potential to the world as part of plans to  celebrate the golden independence of Nigeria has, indeed, been a consolation to Nigerians, against the backdrop of the lacklustre performance put up by the Super Eagles, at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

It was painful that the Super Eagles lost out woefully in the games due to series of complaints fuelled by the fire-brigade approach employed by the country’s football authorities, their level of preparedness, indiscipline, lack of commitment, and poor coordination by some of the players. Though all is now history,  the good thing is that Nigeria took a right step by having a Plan B, targetted at making a significant statement through the Nigeria Tourism Village, adjudged by South Africans and foreign tourists and visitors to the place as the most fascinating and best among the five villages built in different provinces of South Africa.

As far as the sports tourism event is concerned, the hosts who also lost out in the game, are less concerned about the impact and efforts of the Bafana Bafana in the soccer fiesta, but have focused greatly on the tourism activities that attracted visitors and tourists from around the world to South Africa, thus bringing dividends of hope to the South African economy this time when developed nations and super powers are recovering from the intense global economic recession.

Sensitive to the impact of tourism activities in global event, the apex tourism promoter and chief marketer of Nigeria, the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Chief Olusegun Runsewe, who understood the thrust of international tourism made a statement of confidence, sincerity of purpose and consciousness to the economic reality of tourism development and promotion through the Nigerian Tourism Village, which serves as a rallying point to showcase the one village, one people and diverse cultural and tourism affinity,” which connect the people of Nigeria together.

The village, which was beautifully and aesthetically decorated to give a replica of real African settings and home-away from home hospitality, created an avenue for a range of mutual interaction among Nigerians at home and those in the diaspora, as well as South Africans and visitors to South Africa to meet, create, cross-fertilise and really feel Nigerian, among themselves.

The village did not lack anything which is vital  in making people feel at home, as it harbours the Nigeria Village headquarters; the NTDC’s office, offering all manner of national information on the people, cultures, tourism sites, destinations and areas of investment to boost the ongoing public and private partnership initiative campaign.

Also, there were provisions for mosque and  church halls, an internet and news desks, electronically operated toilets, food, snack and drinks vendors, among others.

Speaking at the village, the Director-General, Nigherian Tourism Development Corporatiion NTDC, Chief Runsewe, disclosed that the village is a practical statement of Nigeria consciousness to package tourism content from every event, domestically and internationally.

According to Runsewe, the Nigerian Tourism Village is a representation of Nigeria culture, norms and values which is deliberately conceptualised to project and sustain the tourism determination and commitment and the thorough nature of Nigerians.

“As you can see, we want to use our advantage to complement the tourism potentials to promote and market Nigeria for the re-branding initiative. And that was the reason, you have Nollywood actors and actresses, commedians and notable musicians on stage at the village, entertaining tourists and visitors with the Nigerian flavour.”

The roll call of performers at the village include: Tee Mac; Shina Peters; Sunny Nneji; Alariwo of Africa; Yinka Davies; Shan George; Gbenga Adeyinka; Abbey Paul; Bob Manuel Udoka; Paul Adams; Yinka Ayefele; Andy Gabriel and among other young artistes.

Also, at the village, apart from the host, the NTDC, other agencies under the Ministry of Culture Tourism and National Orientation; National Gallery of Arts (NGA), National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).