The 61st meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) held in Abuja may have come and gone, the lessons learnt will remain a constant reminder of the need to accord tourism the right of place in our developmental priorities. At this critical time of dwindling fortune of the Nigeria’s economy, all the states of the federation are in dire need of the support and encouragement from the federal government in the development of tourism to generate more revenue, employment and wealth.
Today, one of such nature’s gift and tourist site is the Ogbunike Caves in Anambra state discovered, according to history, by a man named Ukwa from the Umucheke family of Ifite-Ogbunike thousands of years ago. The Caves has some spiritual significance having been created by a deity, Ogba, who lives within the massive structure of the main cave linked with network of smaller caves, tunnels and passages. The inability of the past regimes to translate the rich history of the cave into a national and international monument is responsible for its tentative status as UNESCO World Heritage site by the recommendation of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in 2007.
For many years, the money spinning potential of the caves has remained grossly unharnessed. Yet and heart-warmingly, the site is still endowed with its natural and unbelievable presence of primary forests and one is also proud of the biodiversity that has remained
intact almost several millions of years of its existence and discovery, even though the local community may be credited with this for keeping watch to ensure that the nature’s gift is not, in any way, tampered with through the process of urbanization. Many international
tourist guests, visitors and researchers who have visited and carried out studies on the cave have all concluded that the story is that of a neglected and missed golden opportunity for revenue generation for the state. This sounds right considering the fact that the tourism sector
in Anambra state under the past administration was not only neglected but abandoned to the extent that the promotion of tourism and culture was not given due and proper attention as an economically viable venture until the current administration of Chief Willie Obiano was came on board.
On assumption of office as Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, made clear his intentions to grow the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state by diversifying the economy and change the merchandising mindset of the people and nature of the state economy to embrace the services and productive sectors of the economy. He identified tourism and moved a step ahead to identify the Ogbunike Caves as a top priority and resolved to transform the historic site tourism destination in the presence of his cabinet members and the state Miss Tourism during a working visit to have firsthand information on the general state of affairs of the cave and its infrastructural needs that can promote and drive the cave to achieve its objective of existence as a God’s gift and revenue earners for the state.
In line with the development blueprint of his administration to create world class tourist attraction that will bring tourists from within and outside the country to the state and improve the IGR projections, Governor Obiano identified the urgent need to partner with the private sector across various spheres towards turning around the fortunes of the state. Knowing full well that government cannot efficiently run and manage huge profit-oriented business enterprises, the process of re-engineering the state to actively participate in the national and global tourism economy received a boost with the recent appointment and inauguration of a high profile governing board made up of private sector business men and corporate giants to man the affairs of Golden Tulip Hotels, formally known as Agulu Lake Hotels Resorts in Agulu. The quality of the governing board and the choice of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Prof. Charles Soludo as chairman and other members who are business experts
with tremendous successes, experience and tremendous landmarks in the tourism and entertainment industry and in other field of human endeavours has raised a new hope for the upgrade of the overall development of the tourism and hospitality sector of the state.
The state can generate N20 billion annually if the caves is fully functionally and properly put to maximum use. Therefore, the Soludo governing board should rightly advice on key issues like attractive incentives on all investments; parks equipment, hotel constructions, transportations, restaurants and other recreational facilities to uplift the cave into a world class standard.
Therefore, the task before the Soludo board goes beyond injecting efficiency into the management Golden Tulip Hotels but should extend an olive branch to the benevolence of the people’s Governor Obiano with proposals and feasibilities that can attract Anambra state’s business moguls and other business dynasties to key into the private sector friendly business and investment environment created by the Obiano administration. This is with a view to bringing the vision of unleashing Ogbunike Caves’ economic powers to impact and drive the state economy on the path of prosperity.
Thomas, lead advocate, Civil Leadership Association of Nigeria, writes from Ibadan, Oyo state
