By Abba -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) is stepping up efforts to promote tourism through film and storytelling, engaging with key players in the creative industry to showcase the country’s authentic image and attract visitors.
The Director General of NTDA, Dr Ola Awakan emphasized that storytelling is the key to putting a new face to tourism, highlighting Nigeria’s wealth of stories waiting to be told. He noted that the initiative involves collaborating with filmmakers, screenwriters, and other creatives to present Nigeria’s diverse locations and cultures.
Recent meetings with industry players, including Dr Shaibu Husseini of the National Film and Video Censors Board, filmmaker JJC Skillz, and Dr Ali Nuhu of the Nigerian Film Corporation, focused on harnessing film, music, and creative content to promote tourism.
JJC Skillz expressed enthusiasm for supporting efforts to promote Nigeria through creative content, while Dr Shaibu Husseini highlighted film’s role in unlocking Nigeria’s tourism potential. “Tourism potential in Nigeria is enormous, and film provides a powerful platform to open up the sector to the world,” he said.
Dr Ali Nuhu noted that the initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to explore film’s potential in promoting tourism, emphasizing Nigeria’s diverse locations and cultures that can be showcased through film.
The NTDA aims to strengthen collaboration across institutions and engage stakeholders in the public and private sectors to boost the creative ecosystem and position Nigeria as a visible tourism destination.
The authority believes that storytelling through film and music can connect people with Nigeria’s destinations, making it a powerful tool for attracting local and international visitors.
By leveraging the creative industry, Nigeria hopes to showcase its authentic image and unlock its vast tourism potential, with the NTDA leading the charge in promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes.
