Major ways of making Nigeria great again have been identified by the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
The Governor said the culture of indolence exhibited by an average Nigerian is the major cause of poverty in the country.
This was even as the ‎Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs Chika Balogun, ‎stated that Aregbesola has raised the standard of culture and tourism as being reflected in the multitude of investment emerging across the state.‎
‎The Governor stated this on Thursday while delivering his address during the National Conference jointly organised by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Osogbo Campus and Office of Culture and Tourism, State of Osun, at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo.
Aregbesola stated that for Nigeria to reclaim her reputation among the comity of nation, the culture of indolence must give way for Nigeria to attain the position that God destined for it.
He described idleness ‎and less productivity among Nigerians as basis for poverty in the country, saying it is high time for Nigerians to see work as way of life.
The Governor stressed that no nation develops in an atmosphere clouded with indolence, adding that great nations in the world became great through productivity and commitment to wealth creation.
 Aregbesola asserted that Nigeria remains poor simply because more than average of her citizen failed to prioritize work and productivity.
According to him, “it is disheartening that a nation like Nigeria that is blessed with strong people still languishes in such a perceived abject poverty in spite being blessed with healthy people that can work.
“The reason for this is not far-fetched because Nigeria is the only nation that I know where a significant percentage of her citizenry do not work.
 “The culture of indolence must die for us to attain the position destined for us by God. We must all see work as the only means for survival. ‎It is time for us as a people and as a nation to begin to see work as the only antidote to poverty.
“We are not created to be poor; we are not destined to be poor. ‎Since our culture emphasises work as the only basis for wealth, then no effort must be spared to prioritise productivity, if we truly want to succeed as a nation”, Aregbesola added.
Earlier, the Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs Chika Balogun lauded the efforts of the state for developing tourism, culture and hospitality.
Mrs Balogun who was represented by Alhaji Kabir Monmo, said the state had shown much interest in shifting attention from mono-economy to a well diversified economy, as being manifested in the successes recorded in the culture and tourism sector.
She said the state under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola has raised the standard of good governance particularly in culture and tourism.‎
In her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Mrs Taiwo Oluga, disclosed that the present administration has done so much at resuscitating the moribund status of culture and tourism.
“To the glory of God and for the service of mankind, the Osogbo Campus of the institute is now more than 10 years old, waxing stronger, in spite of some teething challenges faced in coordinating the activities of stakeholder on tourism and hospitality.
“Besides, students from other parts of the country that had graduated from the institute, quite a number of the staff of office of culture and tourism in the state had equally been trained and graduated in various courses of the institution and this has undoubtedly improved their service rendered in their schedules and responsibilities.
“The present government of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has contributed immensely to the preservation and development of the state’s culture and tourism potentials through various developmental projects and continued moral and financial supports to the celebration of festivals in the state.
She appealed to the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Abuja for the completion of the Permanent Site of the Institute
The Chairman of the occasion and the CEO of AENON Suites and Hotels, Mr. Ademola Adedapo, represented by Mr Matthew Izoagu, commended Aregbesola for genuinely exploring and exploiting the potentials of the state for the general benefits of the citizenry.
He described the. Governor’s social protection initiatives which according to him had impacted greatly in the lives of the citizenry as one of the best in the world.‎
According to him, ‎”I have been exposed to the quality road network and massive school infrastructure with gargantuan buildings built across the state.
“If I am to rate this government, I will only say Governor Aregbesola has done credibly well. ‎Osun has one of the greatest potentials in culture, art and tourism.
“It is not a doubt that Osun is one of the states in Africa endowed with credible and great culture and I am happy that our Governor has done excellently well in maximizing the potentials to the utmost benefit of the state and the citizenry.
“This has opened windows of opportunities for business to thrive because, Osun can today be proud of improved investment and businesses springing up here and there.
“Since culture and tourism remains where the life lies, it is certain that through the bold step being taken by the state, the sector can certainly secure jobs for the youth of the state”, he stressed.
Packaged by Bunmi Oladejo
