Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, on Thursday said the culture and tourism sector would soon become a credible alternative to crude oil.

Mohammed spoke at the Quarterly Public Lecture entitled ‘Promoting Culture, Developing the Economy’ organised by National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Abuja.

“I believe the sector will become a credible alternative to crude oil in no distant time. Many countries of the world are harnessing the huge potentials in their culture and tourism.

“We cannot afford to lag behind as cultural industries are acknowledged as the fastest growing in countries all over the world.

“Nigeria’s journey towards economic growth and development would have truly begun, if all stakeholders accord the priority attention it deserves.

“It is pertinent to state here that the task of developing our economy is the responsibility of all Nigerians,” Mohammed said.

He explained further that the development could come from any quarter or form adding that it was not a stereotyped thing or does it have any template.

“The development we need, can be through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement; collaboration with the government at the Federal, state, and local government levels.

“It can also be through meaningful investments by Nigerian entrepreneurs in culture and tourism infrastructure.

“Patronage of made in Nigeria goods as well as the media playing vanguard role in drawing attention to the economic potentials in our culture sector.”

Mohammed reiterated the urgent need to explore alternative sources of revenue generation as it was a major concern to the administration of President Mohammed Buhari.

“Recently the Federal Government through the National Orientation Agency launched the ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign, which is a re-engineering programme designed to promote attitudinal change and patriotism in Nigerians.

“The success of the programme will foster good international image for the country and attract the much-needed traffic of tourists. He commended NICO for the choice of the theme of the lecture, saying that it was apt in view of the present economic challenges. (NAN)

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