Osinbajo Celebrates Nigerian Music, Culture at UNWTO Global Conference, as Lai Mohammed, Zurab Unveil Plans for Creative Industries

Segun Atanda/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo thrilled the audience at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation global conference in Iganmu, Lagos today, when he gave his rendition of Kizz Daniel’s hit song, Buga, along with numbers from Burna Boy, and Asake.

Speaking on the theme of the event, ‘Linking Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries: Pathways to Recovery and Improving Development.’

Osinbajo told the participants, from across the world that music is a global language that people can enjoy without understanding the lyrics.

He said, “Music, as we all know, is a global language. Even those who don’t know the meaning of the words of a song enjoy the rhythm. And some find out the meaning of the lyrics, discovering the cultures and ideas that inspire them.

“But let me just test that theory of mine, that is, that you don’t need to understand the words of any song to enjoy it and to be able to sing it and that music is indeed a very global language.”

To buttress his point, the professor sang Kizz Daniel’s hit song ‘Buga’; an act which caused cheers and applause from the participants.

He further asked the audience to join him in his rendition as he demonstrated the viral dance move associated with the song by raising his shoulders.

After his dance moves, Osinbajo said, “Today, Nigerian music rendered in different languages is played all over the world. So people all over the world are dancing to that song by Kizz Daniel, called ‘Buga’.”
Osinbajo also celebrated Burna Boy for being certified for gold in USA and being the first Afrobeat singer to sell over 500, 000 copies in the first 17 weeks.

He sang Burna Boy’s song “Last Last”, hyping the chorus “Last, last
Na everybody go chop breakfast.”

He went on to sing the song of another Nigerian crooner, Asake – Organise: “Organize. Every other day I organize.”

Addressing the gathering, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, “The purpose of this conference is to fast-track our objective of
transforming the tourism sector into a preferred sector, and the
creative industry into a creative economy. That is the overarching
objective, against the background of the government’s intention of
supporting and facilitating an enabling environment for the true
business growth of tourism and the creative industry.

“The hosting of this conference is a strong affirmation of
Nigeria’s position as a trusted business hub, and a safe harbour for
capital, talent and intellectual property. In the lead-up to the
conference, Nigeria hosted the 2022 UNESCO Media and Information
Literacy Week in Abuja, from 24th to 28th October 2022. Through the
progressive scaling-up of our MICE events (with MICE here standing for
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), we intend to build
public confidence and increase our operational readiness to host
international events. The hosting of these events in quick succession
by the Nigerian government is also a testament to the increasing
readiness, safety and security of our cities to play host to global
events.

“This conference is very important in the history of the UNWTO and
Nigeria, because it marks the very first time that the organization,
in a single forum, is bringing together the three inter-linked sectors
of tourism, culture and the creative industries to highlight their
fundamental importance as effective tools for inclusive development
and drivers of sustainable growth. For Nigeria, the conference, which
has drawn participants from many member states of UNWTO, industry
players, international organizations, the academia and the media,
among others, presents an ideal opportunity to showcase our rich,
diverse and unparalleled tourism and creative assets, to do some
networking, learn new things and share knowledge.”

Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili who has been Secretary-General of the UNWTO since January 2018, spoke at the event. He commended Nigerian government for making the country a tourism destination now.

Expressing delight that Nigeria is home to countless entrepreneurs and lots of enterprises, Pololikashvili said, “Nollywood is making 50 movies a week and generating over $US1billion a year.”

He said that a book has been published to showcase the enterprises and build African economy.

He added that he was impressed by the performance of the National Troupe at the event.

There were performances by a cultural troupe from Kano and the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture that presented a dance called Eko Special.

The Central Bank governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele was represented at the event by his deputy, Mrs Aishah Ahmad Ndanusa.

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