FTAN President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung delivering his welcome address during the FTAN 2023 AGM in Abuja
FTAN to launch Kebbi chapter at Argungu Festival, Sept. 7
Foremost industry operators’ group, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) is set to formally unveil its Kebbi State chapter, next month.
Newly-elected Vice President of FTAN, for the North-West Zone, Mr. Kabir Ali, who disclosed this, Friday, in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Festival 2023 Organizing Committee, Mr. Joesef Karim, further added that the new chapter will be launched on September 7.
FTAN North West Zone comprises; Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.
“We are launching FTAN Chapter in Kebbi State to facilitate tourism development in the state. North-West Nigeria has a lot of unexplored tourism offerings, sadly the region hitherto has not been properly coordinated to make it a tourist destination.”
According to Mr. Kabir, the launch is expected to bring together all the other State Chapter Coordinators in the North West Zone, as well as tourism stakeholders and traditional rulers to discuss challenges of tourism development and come up with solutions and strategies.
“This kind of developmental conference is long overdue for tourism in the North-West,” Kabir noted.
Notably, the Kebbi State Chapter launch will take place at the same time as the popular Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Festival, in the state.
“The organizer of the Polo Festival, Nura Kangiwa, who also doubles as the Director General of NIHOTOUR, himself is a former Vice-President of FTAN’s North-West zone, has promised to massively support the launching of the Kebbi State chapter,” Kabir disclosed.
Confirming the launch, Kangiwa said: “As a former Vice-President of FTAN North-West zone, I am excited at the opportunity of an FTAN Chapter in Kebbi State. I believe it is long overdue, because a Chapter in Kebbi will further position the Argungu Emirate who are custodians of UNESCO’s only intangible cultural heritage site in Nigeria, which is the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival. So, I support this new chapter in Kebbi.”
The 8th Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Festival is expected to hold from 7th to 9th September in Argungu, Kebbi State.
The fete is the largest sports, culture and tourism in Northern Nigeria that attracts thousands of domestic and international visitors and tourists because of the exciting world class Polo matches and the allure of Argungu ancient Kingdom traditional cultural displays.
According to event organisers, ‘this year’s festival will be largest so far.’
