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Wednesday, September 13th, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) elected the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed as Vice President, Africa at its ongoing 22nd General Assembly in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of Southwest China.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Minister, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the General Assembly assumed the seat on behalf of the country, for the next two years.
In addition, NAN further reports that Cape Verde was also elected alongside Nigeria as Vice President, Africa, of the global body charged with the responsibility of ensuring sustainable tourism development.
Tribune confirmed that the 22nd biannual session of the UNWTO was attended by more than 1,300 delegates from 75 countries. According to the report Colombia and Mexico were also elected to represent the continent of America while Romania and Switzerland were elected as representative of Europe.
For Middle East, Iraq was elected while Srilanka flagged for the South Asia continent. Reporting from NAN, Tribune News stated that all the elections to the seats were done by acclamation by delegates as agreed by the General Assembly.
Commenting on his election into the position, Lai Mohammed reportedly recalled that the last time Nigeria occupied the position of UNWTO Vice Presidency was 20 years ago, 1997, and that it was a great honor to the country and him.
“I feel quite honored and humbled to be called upon to serve as the Vice President of the General Assembly of the UNWTO and it is a very big honor to Nigeria.
“It has proven one thing that in the last two years, the administration has succeeded in pushing tourism and creative industry as a whole from the back burner to the front burner, from the side issue to the main issue.
“This has also been noticed by the global community and I feel highly gratified about it. When you are recognised on a global stage like this, it encourages and spurs you to do more.
Correspondent: Ridwan A Olayiwola