| Nigeria/Sao
Tome and Principe joint investment forum
NTDC delegation visits Nigerian embassy
By DOTUN OLUBI JR.
Saturday, September
13, 2008
The Nigeria/Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authourity/Investment
Forum has just ended in the Island of Sao Tome.
The representative of the Director General of the Nigerian
Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe,
Mrs Fibi Ikilama, led other members of the delegation on a
courtesy visit to the Nigerian Ambassador to the Democratic
Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Ambassador Thomas Dogonyaro,
at Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Sao Tome and Principe. Mrs Ikilama
told the ambassador that the NTDC delegation was in the country
as part of the participants at the just concluded Nigeria-Sao
Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority Investment forum
2008. She explained that her visit was to decorate the Ambassador
with “Welcome to Nigeria” pin and to officially
present some branded NTDC promotional publications and sourvernirs
to the Embassy, on behalf of the Director General, Otunba
Olusegun Runsewe.
In response, , Ambassador Thomas Dogonyaro, thanked the NTDC
delegation for the visit. He congratulated them for being
part of the forum.
The ambassador affirmed that tourism was one of the greatest
potentials of the Island of Saotome and Principe and called
on Nigeria to help in developing the sector. He stressed the
need for Nigeria to invest in the hospitality industry, hotels,
eco-tourism and beaches as they are open for development.
He stressed that NTDC should have an organized focus on the
Island. He therefore called on the corporation to participate
actively in the next bilateral meetings of both nations as
well as inter-ministerial meetings.
According to the ambassador: “tourism is clearly one
of the areas we must sign agreement with”.
He equally stressed the need to have an active private sector
involvement in the development of the Island , particularly
the banks.
In his words: “I want the banks to be the arrow head
of the private sectors in Nigeria. With this, they can be
sure of financing the non-hydrocarbon areas such as fishing
and tourism.”
Dogunyaro further stated that it required a lot of commitment,
on the part of the private sector, as well as government to
government support to the system. He explained that there
were lots of investments calling for attention in the Island,
considering the fact that Saotome and Principe is still a
virgin land, especially the Island of Principe which has potentials
in larger terms.
He stated that Shell had already registered its investment
presence at Bom Bom Island, while Angola is supplying fuel
to the country. He thus called on Nigeria to act fast and
reposition itself on the development of the small Island country.
According to the ambassador, “we have a lot to do to
help bring up this place for the betterment of both nations”.
He stressed the need to partner with them for the sake of
developing the Island, while calling for the setting up of
English schools, as a way of adding value to the system, considering
the fact that their official language is Portuguese.
In his word: “It is the volume of tourists that will
help open up this place.”
He explained that Singapore was not as big as the Democratic
Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, yet the country is one
of the most industrialized nations in the world. He stated
that the country was being repositioned as a regional lifewire
centre, thus Nigeria should act fast through active investment
in the economy. According to him: “this place can be
turned as a backyard of Nigeria.” He reiterated that
there were lots of things Nigerian can explore in the country.
The envoy, while appreciating the delegation from NTDC stated
thus: “I am very glad that you have come, and have brought
these materials.”
He explained that as soon as their capital vote is approved,
he would effect some renovation at the Embassy building so
as to make provision for a library and exhibition hall.
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