The first inaugural meeting of the Working Working Committee on the implementation of the tourism content of the Welcome2Nigeria Project (W2NP) was heard at the Federal Ministry of Tourism (FMT), Head of Service of the Federation complex, Abuja, on September 3, 2024.

The meeting, being the first after the creation of the Ministry from the defunct Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, had its agenda clearly spelt out, for the smooth take off of the partnership, geared towards a hitch-free implementation of the Project.

While declaring the meeting opened, the Coordinator of Welcome2Nigeria Project (who also chaired the meeting) gave a background information on how far W2NP and the government have come, regarding the Project, traversing three different but same ministries, culminating on the current one.

He explained in details the project’s objectives and focus – which are strategic to national growth, in terms of poverty alleviation, promotion of alternative sources of revenue and employment generation.

He added that the tourism content of the Project is a win-win, not only for the Ministry but for the entire country because of its solution-based socio-economic intervention approach, targeted at attracting high-end investment value for the country’s tourism industry,  capacity building, rural tourism resources inclusiveness, tourism products development and marketing.

A member of the Committee, Mr Tony Ukpoju, a senior staff of the Ministry, informed the Committee of the Ministry’s position and support for the Project because it is in line with the policies of government and the Honourable Minister of Tourism’s action plan for Nigeria’s tourism development. He also stated that the Ministry has provided technical supported to the Project for many years and that the wisdom behind the approval of Officials of the Ministry to serve in the Committee is a testimony of the Ministry’s quest to achieve growth through Public Private Partnership.

Deliberations on the agenda of the meeting was focused on the terms of reference for the Committee, its implementation structure as well as the plan of action. All of those being critical and necessary for the strategic execution of the Projects programmes. Members made useful contributions, suggested that the Committee be expanded to accommodate relevant stakeholders and also the need to set up a one-body Committee of all partners of the Project.