The Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, has urged practitioners in tourism sector to use it for development of their people and communities in the council.
Hunpe gave the advice during the International Day for the Abolition of Slave Trade and it’s Abolition organised by the council in partnership with the Confederation of Badagry Tourism Practitioners.
According to the Chairman, Badagry is blessed with tourism potential, we should use this for development of our people, communities and councils.
“I am appealing to the practitioners to cooperate with one another and put all tourism activities in one place celebrate them together.
“This will bring development to Badagry and also leads to increase in GDP of the federation, Lagos and the council.
“People from different countries will visit us here, local people will make money from there wares and everyone will smile home.
“In Olorunda LCDA, we have hotels and other infrastructure, there is tourist sites in Badagry LGA and Badagry-West LCDA also has the land and beaches to welcome them here,” he said.
On symbolic Fitila Procession, he said: “We are not only illuminating the dark memories of our past but also reaffirming the resilience, strength, and dignity of the Black race.
“This event is significant for us in Badagry, not just as a remembrance, but as a call to action.
“Badagry is blessed with a heritage that is second to none; centuries-old monuments, sacred sites, cultural traditions, and a history that speaks to the world,” he said.
The Chairman, however, said Badagry tourism treasures remained, under-promoted and underutilised.
“Since assuming office, I have taken deliberate steps to chart a new course for tourism in Badagry by bringing together all stakeholders under one umbrella; the Confederation of Badagry Tourism Practitioners.
“This platform is designed to harmonize our calendar, strengthen collaboration, and give coherence to our collective efforts,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Bonu Solomon, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1 in Lagos State House of Assembly, commended the council chairman for organising meeting with all shareholders in Badagry.
According to him, this will bring unity in the sector and lead to development of the sector in Badagry division.
In his lecture, Prof Yemi Adejumo, a Lecturer in the Department of Architecture, University of Lagos, Akoka, advocated for Community Based Tourism (CBT).
According to him, this is about the people, their natural resources and ability to package the resources through a participatory approach into leisure products for the consumption of willing visitors.
“This will result towards fixed goals of socio economic gains and better liveability platform,” he said.
Dr Tunde Ajose, the spokesman for CBTP, assured the chairman that the partnership between the council and the practitioners would achieve its aim of developing the sector and Badagry
Ajose commended the chairman for setting the pace for tourism department in the council.