Selling Nigeria to the world 
In a bid to show the tourism potentials of the country, a group of tourists from Australia, Ireland, the United States of America and the United Kingdom visited Abuja, the Federal Capital City and Calabar, a city which apart from its breathtaking tourist sites also has a special historical significance to the making of modern Nigeria.
Iby Raff, who is visiting from New York, described what they have so far seen in Nigeria as truly fascinating and miles away from what is usually said or written about the country. ‘’ The people of Nigeria are fantastic, they are really hospitable.
Young and old, they’ve been making us feel at home since we entered the country. Driving through Abeokuta, we saw people waving at us and beaming warm smiles. Your country is indeed fascinating and we cannot wait to see Calabar which we are told is a beauty to behold.”
Edem Duke, minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, told the tourists that Nigeria is an attractive and fascinating country in spite of the current challenges of nation-building.
Already, President Goodluck Jonathan and his team are working round the clock to surmount the challenges preventing the country from being a marketable destination.
The minister seized the opportunity to invite the tourists to the 2012 editions of Abuja and Calabar Carnivals with a promise to treat them to what he described as ‘a special Nigerian hospitality’ during the two events. The Minister also enjoined them not to only enjoy the fascinating Nigerian tourism but to also explore the diverse investment opportunities in the country.
Entertainment icon and former Director-General of NTA, Ben Murray Bruce who was on the Minister’s team, invited the tourists to enjoy a night of entertainment at his Silverbird Galleria in Abuja before they leave for Calabar.
The tourists who took off from Morocco came through Ghana to Nigeria, decided to see the Federal Capital City and proceed to Calabar from where they would move to Cameroon and South Africa and Egypt before returning to their different countries.
