TOURISM IS A POWERFUL TOOL OF TRANSFORMATION IN ANY SOCIETY Gov. Otti

TOURISM IS A POWERFUL TOOL OF TRANSFORMATION IN ANY SOCIETY
Gov. Otti

David Maduako –Umuahia

ABIA State on the 2nd of October 2025 , joined her counterparts world over to celebrate The World Tourism Day which was celebrated at Jack Building Ogurube Layout Umuahia.

The Chief of Staff to Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba during the event.

Declaring the ceremony open
the Chief of Staff to the State Governor Pastor Caleb Ajagba who represented the state governor Dr Alex Otti described Tourism as a veritable tool to transform any society. The governor stated that tourism is not all about traveling visiting places for sight seeing but a tool for transformation saying that the 2025 Celebration is unique as it gets focuses more on sustainable transformation in a society .

According to him tourism
can actually be a very powerful tool to bring about transformation. The truth is that one cannot begin to transform what is not known. Most times, people travel for the fun of it, it is a very good platform to go from the known to the unknown.

He observed that all discoveries in tourism have added value to humanity. So tourism, and indeed ecotourism, which relates to the environment, the way we live, the way we perceive various communities and societies, especially in the hinterland, the rural communities, can be a powerful tool . By the time you get to the hinterlands, you discover people, discover their culture, their tradition, their way of life, you’ll be able to appreciate them more.
You’ll be able to understand why certain people do what they do. To you, it might sound strange, but that is one thing that has brought about their uniqueness. Everyone is unique, but it takes you getting closer to them to be able to appreciate the uniqueness of their culture he stated .

In Abia State today, , he said one can see that the coming of the governor has been able to bring transformation.
He noted
that this year’s focus will be able to help us look inwards, using culture, arts and tourism as a powerful tool to bring about transformation. Our state is rich in cultural heritage and if it is well packaged, other countries would come to invest in Abia . He observed that when one go to Dubai, Israel, Brazil, they rely so much on tourism which
has become a major foreign exchange earner for them . So today, we will be looking at very creative ways of launching this state to the next phased , he stated .

Tourism, entertainment , arts and culture he said can be the powerful tool and platform that can help Abia launch to the next phase of prosperity.

Contributing the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Entertainment and Tourism Hon.justice Martins described the theme of the this year’s celebration, “Tourism and Sustainable Development’ as apt . He said Tourism must become a vehicle for Sustainable development , inclusive growth , environmental stewardship and transformative change not only for visitors but for the host Community and their natura heritage. He called on all to support the government and the Commissioner of the ministry whom he said have been working hard to make Abia a Tourist Centre.

Hon.Mathew Ekwuribe Commissioner Ministry of Arts Culture and Creative Economy

In his address , the Commissioner for Arts Culture and Creative Economy , who is the Chief host of the program , Hon . Matthew Ekwuribe noted that Tourism is not all about sight seeing it is all about soul seeing . According to him tourism is about seeing what we have and transforming them into opportunities for progress . He said Tourism is the heart beat of heritage and the engine of Sustainable transformation.

He made it clear that the years theme is not an abstract slogan but a lived reality for clear agenda and bold direction . He said under the direction of the state governor, his ministry have turned Abia into a tourist and cultural hub. He disclosed that Abia presently has 55 tourist sites which he said are not mere relics but economic assets, cultural treasure and symbol of identity waiting to be harnessed. With the approval of the governor these sites he said would soon be renovated to preserve history of Abia and turn them into a learning Environment .

Hon. Ekwuribe called on all Abians including Hoteliers , Collectors of artifacts Captains of Industries among others to join hands to make tourism a thriving Industry in the state , noting that there is hope and the future of tourism is bright in Abia State.
End .