The 8th National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation was been declared opened on Wednesday in Ilorin, Kwara state.

The national council meeting with the theme "Leveraging Tourism, Culture and National Orientation for National Peace and Unity," is scheduled to end today.

Speaking at the opening, the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and Chairman of the technical session, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, said all is set to transform and reposition the sector for a key role in dealing with the emerging challenges of our time.

She called on every member of staff of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation at the federal and state levels, the parastatals and every other stakeholder to rise to the great responsibility.

The permanent secretary urged all stakeholders to look upon this special occasion as an opportunity to contribute their quota to the growth of the tourism sector, adding that issues that would help to reposition the sector should be sufficient at the forum.

She enjoined the participants to work assiduously together to the project of repositioning the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the honourable commissioner for Social Development, Culture and Tourism in Kwara state, Hajiya Ramat Adesina Abaya, said the session needs to sharpen the ability of the sector’s professionals and technocrats to enable Nigeria respond urgently to the challenges hindering her progress.

She said the session would also spark off insightful discussions on the modalities the sector could adopt to confront the challenges in the ministry.