Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has announced plans to hold a roundtable meeting with stakeholders focusing on tourism and other key areas under the ARISE Agenda. He shared this news while welcoming back a four-member team from the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, who had just returned from a two-week tourism training program in Beijing, China.
During the event, Governor Eno also received a plaque honoring him as the “Tourism Governor of the Year.” The state was recognized as the “Most Active Tourism State in Nigeria” at the Travellers Award in Lagos.
The Governor highlighted that the upcoming stakeholders’ workshop would explore important projects and programs in various sectors that the government aims to implement over the next two years for the benefit of the people. He emphasized the importance of promoting Akwa Ibom as a top tourist destination and stressed the need for ongoing training of tourism promoters, tour guides, taxi and bus drivers, and hospitality workers across the state.
Governor Eno encouraged the recently trained team to share their new knowledge with a broader group within the Culture and Tourism Ministry and other stakeholders through a “train-the-trainer” program. He thanked the Chinese government for providing the training opportunity to Akwa Ibom indigenes.
Praising the state’s recent tourism awards, Governor Eno expressed gratitude to the event organizers and various tourism stakeholders. He viewed these awards as a testament to his government’s commitment to making Akwa Ibom a premier destination through strategic investment in the culture and tourism sector.
He commended the efforts of the Culture and Tourism Commissioner, Sir Charles Udoh, and his team for their hard work in bringing the government’s vision for the sector to life, urging them to continue their efforts.
Sir Charles Udoh presented the trainees to the Governor, explaining that the training at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration was part of a cultural exchange and international collaboration initiative by the Chinese government. He noted that Akwa Ibom was the sole Nigerian representative at the program, and their performance was highly regarded.
Sir Charles also mentioned that, soon, four medical doctors from Akwa Ibom would travel to China for another two-week training program, further strengthening the ties between China and Akwa Ibom.