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No fewer than 45,000 people are anticipated to attend an Igbo festival in the United States of America in an effort to promote Nigeria’s culture.
The Eastern Updates reports that the Igbo Fest, which has been held for 28 years, is billed to take place in Minnesota, United States, on the 10th and 11th of August.
Igbo Fest Cultural Ambassador Peter Egbudom gave a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. He noted that the country’s rich cultural heritage can be used to draw foreign direct investment as the economy in Nigeria is in desperate need of legal foreign investment through tourism.
He said, ‘It is no longer news that Nigeria is facing the biggest economic challenges arising from diminishing internal revenues and inadequate foreign investments. With this frightening scenario, Nigeria desperately needs legitimate foreign investment through tourism potential.’
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‘Our diverse cultural heritage has been left untapped for so many years. This rich cultural heritage can be harnessed to bring investment to Nigeria.
‘Foreigners are usually excited about our cultural heritage, dressing and food. Our rich cultural heritage is an area where the federal, state, and local governments and private entities can come in and earn foreign revenues through tourism.’
On the number of people to grace the occasion, the cultural ambassador said, ‘We are expecting 45,000 participants for the occasion.’
Egbudom stated that the Federal Government is not involved in the organisation of the Fest, advising the federal and state governments to ‘set up a tourism board and give it adequate support in order to help boost cultural tourism in the country.
‘Government needs to put more money into our tourism sites to attract foreign investment. They can also send Nigerians to other countries that are doing well in tourism and develop ours in return.’
According to him, the Igbo Fest Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota will feature a gala night of celebration, sensational saxophone live performance, Ada & Okoro Igbo pageant, and many more activities to change the narrative in our tourism sector.
