Donald
Duke, Ex-Governor of Rivers State, during a presentation at the Culture and
Tourism Summit hosted by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in
Abuja on Thursday, said he developed culture and tourism in order to rescue the
State from financial crunch when he was in charge.
He
also said that following the relinquishing of Bakassi peninsular – the oil rich
part of Cross River to Cameroun by the administration of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo – the revenue accruing to the State
crumbled.
According
to Duke, the fall in the State’s revenue was like a blow to the State as
efforts to revive it proved abortive. His administration then, took practical
measures to develop tourism sites in the State and initiated the Calabar
Festival and Tinapa Resorts which had become money spinners.
During
the summit, Duke mentioned that the annual festival which holds every December
attracts no fewer than six million visitors and generates billions of naira to
the coffers of the State
He
also applauded the decision of the Federal Government to use culture and
tourism to resuscitate the deteriorating oil revenue. He also said the feat
would be achievable through determination, commitment, and cooperation of the
officials involved.
During
the tenure of Duke, it will be elicited that he created the Obudu Cattle Ranch
International Mountain Race which has since then, become one of the most
lucrative mountain running competitions, home and abroad.
Frank
Aig-Imoukhuede, an expert in cultural matters, urged the government to develop
concerts, soccer, carnivals, exhibitions and festivals. The octogenarian
journalist and poet, in a presentation at the summit said that development of
the sectors would make the rural populace to be self-reliant.
http://bizwatchnigeria.ng/calabar-festival-tinapa-resorts-money-spinners-state-donald-duke/
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