Mbanefo takes tourism to Deputy Senate President

In her quest at ensuring the germination and blossoming of domestic tourism in Nigeria, the Director- General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, has taken her campaign to the door step of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
Mrs Mbanefo, who led her team on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Senate President, was fortunate, as her time of the visit coincided with the period when the South-East, South-South professionals were in a discourse with Senator Ekweremadu.
The Director-General, in her humble style, paid traditional obeisance to Senator Ekweremadu and professionals from the two regions present.
“ I thank God for providing me this rare privilege and opportunity to be at the presence of one of the most illustrious sons of Nigeria, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu and the brain box of development in Eastern region of Nigeria, the distinguished members of South East and South-South Professionals.
“I am not only humbled, but also honoured to address you on the domestic tourism gospel, evolved by the President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, at mobilising the inherent economic potentialities of the tourism sector for empowerment, revenue generation, job creation and wealth distribution.
“Sir, there is no time, space, location and ambience as apt and proper like this, where I can be so fortunate to address array of eminent and distinguished members of the Eastern part of this country like this on an issue that if well embrace, developed and its potentialities explored, will spun fortune and take our people from wretchedness to abundance.”
She revealed to the groups that , “I am happy that my brothers and sisters from the South-East and South-South are here. I am particularly happy because I have just come back from a tour of Abia State, where I saw with my naked eyes the wondrous tourism asset which the place is blessed with.
“I am happy also that I have been to Bayelsa and saw the first oil well. I have also been to Port- Harcourt where the first resort in Nigeria was planted. I am planning to visit Enugu State to see a wonderful fall, which hosts seven caves. The eastern side of Nigeria is a tourist haven.
“It has the potentialities which are only begging to be developed. I am happy and sure that the SESSPN will not open their eyes and see these potentialities capable of liberating Nigerians from the pang of poverty remain unlocked.”
Mrs Mbanefo assured that “we at NTDC are ever ready at all times not only to help in marketing and promoting these sites, but to collaborate and network states and private sector with foreign investors on any of these numerous sites begging for development and enhancement.”
The Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu in his response, commended Mrs Mbanefo for her brilliant and short address.
“Madam DG, NTDC, I must commend you for your short but brilliant and expository briefing on domestic tourism, which I think it is the right thing for us to embrace and look into. I also have to commend you for your sense of purpose and duties since your assumption of office. I have read about your tourism journey to the South-west and the North. I am glad that you know your onions and diligently going about it,” he said.