Travel and tourism Expert, Hajia Faridah Sagaya, has described Nigeria’s tourism sector as an “untapped goldmine.
Speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, Hajia Sagaya stressed that despite Nigeria’s vast tourism potential, the country has yet to effectively package and present its attractions to both domestic and international audiences.
She urged both government and private stakeholders to intensify efforts to promote and develop the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The Travel Expert highlighted Nigeria’s diversity its people, cuisine, music, culture, and fashion as natural assets that remain underappreciated and under-promoted.
According to her, many shy away from investing in tourism due to misconceptions about its profitability,
she emphasized that when properly developed, the industry offers significant long-term benefits for local communities.
The Tourist underscored the cultural richness of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, and called for strategic planning to attract more visitors for leisure and cultural exchange.
On the recently held annual Ilorin Emirate Grand Durbar, Hajia Sagaya noted that ongoing efforts to generate global attention for the event are beginning to yield positive results.
Hajia Sagaya also called for the inclusion of tourism education in school curricula, particularly at the secondary level, to cultivate early interest in the sector.
She encouraged more tertiary institutions particularly the University of Ilorin to establish programmes in tourism and hospitality to broaden career opportunities for youth.
