{"id":236236,"date":"2025-10-03T14:36:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T14:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.name.ng\/news\/world-tourism-day-governor-alex-otti-declares-arts-and-tourism-as-new-oil-for-abias-economic-transformation\/"},"modified":"2025-10-03T14:36:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T14:36:36","slug":"world-tourism-day-governor-alex-otti-declares-arts-and-tourism-as-new-oil-for-abias-economic-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/world-tourism-day-governor-alex-otti-declares-arts-and-tourism-as-new-oil-for-abias-economic-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"World Tourism Day: Governor Alex Otti Declares Arts and Tourism as New Oil for Abia\u2019s Economic Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<h4 data-start=\"3444\" data-end=\"4020\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>State Governor, Dr. <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/Alex\">Alex <\/a>Otti, has revealed a bold strategy to reposition <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>as a global tourism hub and foreign exchange powerhouse. Speaking at the 2025 World Tourism Day celebration in Umuahia, Otti stressed that arts, culture, and tourism are powerful tools for sustainable transformation. From heritage revival to hospitality infrastructure and eco-tourism hubs, <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>is setting the pace for economic diversification. But can the state truly become Africa\u2019s next Dubai? Read the full details of Governor Otti\u2019s vision and the expert insights shared at the event.<\/em><\/h4>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"kvezio kvezio-clearfix kvezio-post-inline kvezio-float-center kvezio-align-center kvezio-column-1\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Who Cheats More: Married Men or Women? | IFENKILI (PREMIUM IGBO CONTENT)\" width=\"740\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_kcF0IcrtLU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em><strong>\u2026 At 2025 World Tourism Day, Otti unveils plans to make <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>a global tourism hub and foreign exchange powerhouse<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>State Governor, Dr. <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/Alex\">Alex <\/a>Otti, has declared that his administration is deliberately positioning arts, culture, and tourism as the \u201cnew oil\u201d to drive sustainable economic growth, global visibility, and foreign exchange earnings for the state.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\" style=\"margin: 8px 0; clear: both;\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-193835\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/app-1.jpg?resize=1170%2C614&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1170\" height=\"614\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Speaking at the 2025 World Tourism Day celebration in Umuahia themed \u201cTourism and Sustainable Transformation,\u201d Governor Otti, represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, noted that <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>is richly endowed with cultural heritage and tourism potentials that, if harnessed, could turn the state into Africa\u2019s next Dubai or Israel.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He maintained that his administration is already investing heavily in heritage revival, road networks, hospitality infrastructure, and eco-tourism hubs, while also digitizing Abia\u2019s heritage assets and empowering youth and women to thrive in the tourism value chain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"kvezio kvezio-clearfix kvezio-post-middle kvezio-float-center kvezio-align-center kvezio-column-1\">\n<div id=\"kvezio-178990-1519656261\" class=\"kvezio-container kvezio-type-image \" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/WPAdBlock\" data-adid=\"178990\" data-type=\"image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"kvezio-image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.sumofunnel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cover-1-scaled.jpg?w=1170&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"news paper\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_195483\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195483\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-195483 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=1170%2C780&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Dr. Matt Ekwuribe\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=330%2C220&amp;ssl=1 330w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=420%2C280&amp;ssl=1 420w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=615%2C410&amp;ssl=1 615w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-1.jpg?resize=860%2C574&amp;ssl=1 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-195483\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Dr. Matt Ekwuribe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Dr. Matt Ekwuribe, described tourism as a powerful tool for inclusive growth, environmental stewardship, and transformative change. He revealed that <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>is laying the foundation for a tourism-driven economy capable of attracting global partnerships, boosting local businesses, and creating thousands of jobs.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Guest lecturer, Dr. Vivian Okpaleke, emphasized that the future of tourism lies in technology-driven marketing, strategic collaborations, and community participation, while Mr. Solomon Uwakwe of Tourism World International stressed that excellent service delivery is the secret weapon for global competitiveness in the sector.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stakeholders including representatives of <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>State University, Immigration Service, Hotel Management Association, and the EFCC, in their goodwill messages, applauded Governor Otti\u2019s vision, noting that repositioning <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>as a tourism hub would not only diversify the economy but also place the state at the center of Nigeria\u2019s creative and cultural renaissance.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The colorful event, held at the JAAC Building Secretariat, featured drama, cultural performances, discussion panels, and drew dignitaries across the tourism, creative, and hospitality sectors.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-195482 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=1170%2C780&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=330%2C220&amp;ssl=1 330w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=420%2C280&amp;ssl=1 420w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=615%2C410&amp;ssl=1 615w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-2.jpg?resize=860%2C574&amp;ssl=1 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"\/> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-195481 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=1170%2C780&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=330%2C220&amp;ssl=1 330w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=420%2C280&amp;ssl=1 420w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=615%2C410&amp;ssl=1 615w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-3.jpg?resize=860%2C574&amp;ssl=1 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"\/> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-195478 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=1170%2C780&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=330%2C220&amp;ssl=1 330w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=420%2C280&amp;ssl=1 420w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=615%2C410&amp;ssl=1 615w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/afnews.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-6.jpg?resize=860%2C574&amp;ssl=1 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3 class=\"jp-relatedposts-headline\"><em>Related<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px 0; clear: both;\">\n<h3><strong>Listen to top Radio Stations in <a href=\"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/abia\">Abia <\/a>State CLICK HERE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n<\/div>\n<p>https:\/\/afnews.ng\/world-tourism-day-governor-alex-otti-declares-arts\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed a bold strategy to reposition Abia as a global tourism hub and foreign exchange powerhouse. Speaking at the 2025 World Tourism Day celebration in Umuahia, Otti stressed that arts, culture, and tourism are powerful tools for sustainable transformation. From heritage revival to hospitality infrastructure and eco-tourism hubs, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":236237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[176],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-236236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abia"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mat-ekuribe-5.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=236236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/236237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=236236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abiaradiostations.com.ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=236236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}