NIGERIA IS set to reap the benefits of Jamaican tourism expertise, following this week's State visit of its president General Olesegun Obasanjo to the island.
Speaking at the signing of a joint communiqué between the two countries at Jamaica House in St. Andrew yesterday, the Nigerian President said his Culture and Tourism Minister, Ms. Boma Bromillow-Jack, had been allowed the opportunity to discuss co-operation in tourism and other sectors through a Joint Commission with the Jamaican Government.
According to President Obasanjo, his Tourism Minister had also been able to learn about Jamaican hospitality and cultural tourism, firsthand, over the holiday period, hinting that their stay had not been long enough.
"I asked her how much have you learned?" the President remarked. Ms. Bromillow-Jack's reply was "not enough I will have to come back!"
Speaking to The Gleaner yesterday, Ms. Bromillow-Jack gave her impression of the week's festivities and explained the benefits of the Joint Commission talks for both countries.
"It was fantastic," she said. "The concept of the awards gala was beautiful and I believe the Prime Minister did the right thing encouraging and acknowledging the arts."
"Jamaica has been in tourism for quite a while but for us, in Nigeria, after the military regime, we are just getting back into tourism," she said. "In the case of Jamaica, I think we have a lot to get from it."
"We hope that we will be able to have an exchange of craft, personnel and other things to develop our side," she continued. "I believe Jamaica stands to benefit, because here, the African culture is very vibrant and we want to expose them more to what the real thing is all about."
Nigeria has been keen to take the pressure off of its main foreign exchange earner, the oil industry, and to diversify its economy through tourism and other sectors. As such, the West African country recently signed bilateral agreements with several countries, including Jamaica, Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, to boost its fledgling tourism trade and has found recent success in drawing tourists to cultural events such as the Black Heritage Festival and the Osun-Osogbo Festivals.
President Obasanjo expressed confidence yesterday that the arrangement would prove beneficial for both parties.
"We have the Joint Commission through which we can do a lot of things," he stated. "We will make it work on our side and we know that you will make it work on your side."
