CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the study
Nigeria
so much depends on her oil that she forgets the other natural endowments she is
blessed with; earning her the name a “mono-economy”. Truth be told, if Nigeria
diversifies her economy, it will be rated as one of the fastest growing economies
of the world (Ogege & Mojekwu, 2012). Nigeria needs to take her eyes off
the oil sector; most especially now the oil sector has failed her and seeks
means of boosting other sectors of the economy like the culture and tourism
sector. The oil sector has not only failed us, but it has exposed Nigeria to a
lot of ills (Ibeanu, 2008:p8).
Nigeria
is one country with a dignified culture; a culture many foreigners want to know
about coupled with the beautiful tourists’ sites she has; some include:
beautiful waterfalls, beaches, adorable cattle ranches, and even our long
preserved traditional cultures. Tourists’ visiting will have knowledge of our
past and where Nigeria is heading to.
The
culture and tourism sector in Nigeria has been relegated, but it is a large
economy that has what it takes to generate much revenue for Nigeria.
lnfact,
tourism ranks the fourth largest sector in global economy which goes beyond
providing revenue to even fostering peace and development in an economy (Honey
and Gilpin, 2009:1; UNWTO, 2008). This industry was first promulgated in
Nigeria in 1990 when the National Tourism Policy was created.
The
Nigerian people need to change their orientation and see the culture and
tourism sector as a force that can push economic development and this can only
be achieved if every Nigerian; the government and the governed give these
sector the deserved attention it requires. Everyone will be in doubt if culture
and tourism can place food on Nigerians’ table or in anywhere boost the
economy, but a flash back at the pre-colonial era reminds us that this industry
contributed about 50% to the economy (Aig-Imoukhuede, 1987:pp2-11). At that
time some of our crafts were equally exported during the across the border
trades.
Currently
in Nigeria, we are experiencing scarcity of foreign exchange and the high cost
of it, investors are dropping Nigeria for other countries; and it least beats
our imagination that our culture and tourism industry has the tendency to
deliver us from these mess. It will attract foreign investors, alleviate
poverty, uphold our culture and further rate us as one of the fastest growing
economies of the world.
This
study is aimed at looking at how the culture and tourism sector can boost the
Nigerian economy.
1.1 Statement of the problem
It is so disheartening that with how much endowed
Nigeria is, it could only concentrate on the oil industry to boost its economy.
Aside
from this, the poor state of our infrastructure; poor road network, unstable
power supply, and high level of insecurity hampers the growth of culture and
tourism (Oduyoye,
1994).
Meanwhile,
Nigerians lack good orientation on how to value her culture and tourist sites.
Government no more allocate funds to the culture and tourism sector, poor
maintenance of tourist sites, cultures have gone into extinction, indigenes
engage in theft on culture and tourism materials, etc. Still on poor
orientation, Nigerians lack proper orientation on how to treat tourists; some
are scared that tourists have come to exploit them and so they put up some
attitude to scare them away. All these culminate in why culture and tourism
sector cannot strive in Nigeria.
However,
it is crystal clear that the oil industry is not booming the economy as before
as we now have cases of increase in unemployment, scarcity of foreign reserves,
absence foreign investors, and tourist sites being exposed to environmental
factors like: erosion, leaching and desertification.
1.2 Aims/ Objectives of the study
The major objective of this study
is to discover how culture and tourism can be repositioned in a diversified
economy like Nigeria.
Other
specific objectives include:
·
To determine how culture and tourism
can become one of the leading sectors of the Nigeria economy.
·
To determine the level of relationship
between culture/tourism and the economy.
·
To determine the relationship between
culture/tourism and unemployment.
·
To examine how oriented Nigerians’ are
towards managing their culture and tourist sites.
·
To discover the current state of our
tourist sites.
1.3 Research Questions
·
Can culture and tourism be one of the
leading sectors of Nigeria economy?
·
What is the relationship between
culture/tourism and the economy?
·
Can culture and tourism reduce
unemployment?
·
What are the effects of culture and
tourism on the Nigeria economy?
·
How can Nigerians be oriented on how
to preserve their culture and tourism?
1.4 Research Hypothesis
Ho: There is
no relationship between culture/tourism and the economy.
Hi: There is
a relationship between culture/tourism and the economy.
1.5 Significance/ Justification of the study
This study is meant to orientate and educate the
general public, including the government on how culture and tourism can boost
the Nigeria economy. It is to remind the government that there is need to
diversify the Nigeria economy; by considering the culture and tourism sector.
Finally, this research
will also serve
as a resource
base to other scholars and researchers interested in
carrying out further research on this
subject matter.