Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Ex Minister of Data, Tradition and Tourism of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has been appointed as Particular Advisor to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary Basic, Zurab Pololikashvili.
The announcement of the appointment was made in the course of the opening session of the 66th UNWTO Fee for Africa (CAF) at the moment underway in Mauritius.
Mohammed, brings a wealth of data and expertise to his new job having constantly performed instrumental roles within the affairs of the world tourism physique for the previous seven years.
He led the organisation of the 61st UNWTO CAF Conferences in Nigeria in 2018 and the maiden UNWTO International Convention on Linking Tourism, Tradition and Inventive Industries in Lagos final 12 months. Mohammed is anticipated to assist Pololikashvili pursue his goal of creating Africa a key area for the worldwide tourism financial system by way of his Agenda for Africa programme.
Whereas accepting the brand new position, Mohammed expressed his gratitude, saying that he was impressed by the arrogance reposed in him by the Secretary Basic.
“I stand earlier than you, deeply touched and impressed by your beneficiant phrases of confidence and belief. With a lot gratitude for the arrogance positioned in me by the Secretary Basic of the United Nations World Tourism Group (UNWTO), Mr. Zurab Pololikashivili and with an loyal resolve to honour that belief, I humbly settle for the appointment because the Particular Advisor on Tourism to the Secretary Basic of this nice Group.
“This is able to mark the primary time that I’d be attending a operate of the UNWTO as a non-public particular person having for the previous seven (7) years, served because the Minister of Data, Tradition and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I want to prolong my deepest respect and appreciation to all of the leaders of the member states, significantly these from the Africa area; for his or her help and friendship,” he maintained,” Mohammed mentioned.
He added he was deeply honoured to turn into the primary Nigerian to serve on this capability, describing Nigeria as a dynamic and numerous nation by way of pure and human sources within the areas of tourism, tradition, inventive industries, know-how and different points of its nationwide financial system. “Having come thus far and rising nonetheless, the Nigeria and Africa area usually resides and shaping the total vary of achievements and challenges of our present instances. It’s due to this fact inspiring to tackle extra tasks that can information the event of tourism in a extra accountable and sustainable method.”
The mandate of the Particular Advisor straddles a number of tasks together with aiding in growing a technique for restarting a sustainable and protected tourism put up COVID-19 and advising the UNWTO Secretary Basic on points associated to info and tradition.
As well as Mohammed can also be anticipated to arrange related experiences and analysis paperwork according to UNWTO’s rules, accompany and supply recommendation to the Secretary Basic in his visits and suggest related actions of public relations according to the world tourism physique’s priorities.
