First African Ambassador for Responsible Tourism
First African Ambassador for Responsible Tourism
Considered one of the most successful businessmen in Africa, Mr. Dangote founded the Dangote Group 30 years ago and turned his enterprise into the largest business conglomerate in West Africa.Within the framework 61st Regional Commission meeting for Africa, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, named Mr. Aliko Dangote, a global philanthropist as UNWTO’s Ambassador for Responsible Tourism.
He also set up the largest Foundation in Africa, the Dangote Foundation, devoted to providing nutrition, health and education to the continent’s most vulnerable people.
Tourism is an activity with enormous economic importance, which favours an approach that links countries. UNWTO is committed to making well-managed tourism a source of sustainable and responsible development, and of growth opportunities for communities and economies.
“With this appointment, Mr. Dangote is added to the list of personalities named by UNWTO as Ambassadors for Responsible Tourism, whom we hope will act as messengers of our legacy and vision across the globe”, said Secretary-General Pololikashvili. (+ read more).
Amongst the personalities identified in promoting the positive values and benefits that tourism represents as well as the transformative power of responsible tourism are Lionel Messi of F.C. Barcelona, Fernando Hierro, Spanish national team coach and the mythical former Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque.
While on the way to the technical visit at Eko Atlantic City Lagos, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili commended the tourism infrastructural development which, he said, would lead to economic growth in return. Eko Atlantic is an entire new coastal city being built on Victoria Island adjacent to Lagos, Nigeria. It is a focal point for investors capitalizing on rich development growth based on massive demand. It is a gateway to emerging markets of the continent. In his welcome remarks to the Secretary-General and the delegation visiting Lagos, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode highlighted that the massive investment in infrastructural renewal by his administration is a well thought out strategy to position Lagos as a tourism hub.
“So there is a cycle of development that tourism tries to drive and that is why we have continuously supported whatever has to do with tourism. Let me reiterate also that we would continue to support everything tourism because anything that can integrate and bind the continent together, that’s where we should go because we are the next story,” Governor Ambode said.
Useful Links:
UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili pays Courtesy Visit to President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria: /africa/news/2018-06-05/unwto-secretary-general-zurab-pololikashvili-pays-courtesy-visit-president-muhammadu
Global philanthropist becomes UNWTO’s first African Ambassador for Responsible Tourism: /africa/press-release/2018-06-07/global-philanthropist-becomes-unwto-s-first-african-ambassador-responsible-
UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili pays Courtesy Visit to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/making-nigeria-safer-tourism/
