‎Ex-Minister, Lai Mohammed Unveils Book at Revamped Olumo Rock; Cautions Those Demarketing Nigeria, Advocates Tourism Revolution

‎Ex-Minister, Lai Mohammed Unveils Book at Revamped Olumo Rock; Cautions Those Demarketing Nigeria, Advocates Tourism Revolution
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‎ • Ogun Govt vows to turn Olumo into Nigeria’s premier tourist hub
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‎Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has issued a stern warning to citizens who habitually speak ill of the country, declaring that Nigeria’s tourism sector cannot thrive as long as its own people persist in projecting a negative image to the world.
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‎Speaking on Sunday at the newly revamped Olumo Rock Tourist Complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the former Minister condemned what he termed the “incessant and reckless denigration of Nigeria.”
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‎Mohammed gave this charge during a high-profile interactive session themed “Experiencing Olumo: Celebrating Heritage, Inspiring Tourism,” which also served as the backdrop for the signing of his new book, “Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration.”
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‎In a passionate address, Alhaji Mohammed argued that those who use social media and other platforms to demarket the country are sabotaging economic growth.
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‎“Those who constantly badmouth Nigeria are, wittingly or unwittingly, acting as enemies of our culture and tourism sector,” Mohammed stated.
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‎“You cannot consistently speak ill of your own country and expect foreign tourists to see it as an attractive destination. Negative narratives undermine our national interests.”
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‎Citing data from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and UNESCO, the former Minister highlighted that global tourism contributes over $10 trillion to the world economy. He urged federal and state governments to stop ignoring this goldmine.
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‎“Together, tourism and culture support over 330 million jobs worldwide. Nigeria cannot afford to ignore this enormous opportunity,” he said, calling for stronger incentives for private sector investors in the creative industries.
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‎Discussing his new book, Mohammed described it as an insider account of his tenure (2015–2023), specifically how his administration leveraged the media to fight false narratives and recover Nigeria’s stolen heritage.
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‎He touted the historic 2022 agreement with Germany for the return of 1,130 Benin Bronzes, describing it as the largest single restitution of looted artefacts in modern history.
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‎“We have also recovered dozens of artworks from the Netherlands, Mexico, France, the UK, and the US. These artefacts sit in museums abroad attracting millions of visitors; bringing them home is a matter of cultural integrity,” he noted.
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‎Ogun State’s Tourism Push
‎The event also spotlighted the strides made by the Ogun State Government.
‎The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Sesan Fagbayi, revealed that the revitalization of Olumo Rock has already begun yielding revenue dividends.
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‎He confirmed that the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration is aggressively pursuing public-private partnerships to develop other heritage sites.
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‎Corroborating this, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Mr. Bola Basibo, stated: “The Governor is determined to make Olumo Rock the foremost tourist site in the state. Beyond rock climbing, it will become a hub for cultural dialogue and historical learning.”
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‎The gathering was attended by top dignitaries, including the Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, and Commissioner for Special Duties, Mrs. Funmi Efuwape.