. . .Says Echoes of the Drum Stage Play Promotes Unity
A renowned Tourism Expert and Consultant, Dr. Tobi Bernard Thomas, has commended the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Ola Awakan, for leveraging theatre and cultural performance to promote national unity, cultural preservation, and economic development.
Dr. Thomas gave the commendation on Friday in Kaduna while reacting to the recent staging of Dr. Awakan’s stage play, titled: “Echoes of the Drum” by the students of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Faculty of Arts, Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State.
The production, which was featured on the Media brought together diverse cultural representations including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Kalangu and Bembe, to project a message of peace, tolerance and togetherness among Nigerians.
According to reports from the event, the play also served as advocacy against deforestation and emphasized the strategic importance of ecotourism in repositioning Nigeria’s image globally, while also creating economic opportunities for host communities.
Speaking on the significance of the performance, Thomas described Awakan’s initiative as visionary leadership at a critical time in the nation’s history.
Thomas further explained that: ” Awakan’s work proves that nation-building is a collective responsibility and that our culture is one of our greatest economic assets.
“By linking theatre to the promotion of unity and by centering ecotourism as a pathway to sustainable growth, he is bridging the gap between culture and commerce. as a tourism expert and consultant, I am inspired by this approach.”
The Kaduna-based tourism expert expressed his readiness to partner with the NTDA boss on initiatives aimed at advancing the sector.
“I look forward to collaborating with Awakan and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority on a national economic growth and development exercise that prioritizes tourism, cultural heritage, and environmental sustainability.
“It is through strategic partnerships like this that we can truly bridge the tourism divide and position Nigeria to benefit fully from the global tourism economy,” the expert stated.
The Lafia event also provided a platform for engagement between Awakan and the management of Federal University of Lafia on deepening collaborations to promote Nigeria’s heritage through the performing arts.
Thomas reaffirmed his commitment to working with stakeholders in government, academia, and the private sector to develop policies and programmes that leverage tourism and culture for inclusive growth, job creation, and national cohesion.