What NTDC Boss Folarin “Folly” Coker Has Really Been Up To

It is an unraveling season of grueling engagements for Folorunsho Folarin Coker, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.

Folly Coker as friends and associates love to call the nation’s number one tourism boss has got his hands full trying to make an impact in the face of limitations occasioned by the fight against Covid-19.

Societynow.ng confirmed that the creator of Tour Nigeria – which promotes domestic tourism – has increased his workload these past few days in the bid to shape a better narrative for the sector in the years to come.

As part of these efforts, he was at South East Tourism Stakeholders Forum which was held in Hotel Sunshine Enugu on Friday, November 26, 2021.

The Baba Eto of Yoruba at the forum harped on the need for the development of domestic tourism.

Amongst other salient points, the former commissioner for Tourism Art and Culture in Lagos state explained that “At the NTDC, we strongly believe that to become a tourism hub in Africa, we need to develop domestic tourism first. The development of domestic tourism will increase the country’s attraction to sponsors and investors. They will, in turn, develop the industry, develop our tourism assets, leading to further infrastructural development that will let loose the huge potentials of the sector”

A couple of days before his outing in Enugu, the creator of the famous One Lagos Fiesta hosted the Consul-General of the Honorary Consulate of Colombia, Mrs Marciel Romero Cantillo, and the President of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Engr. Chief Giandomenico Massari to discuss a partnership to push sports tourism in #Nigeria through the African Continental Track Cycling Championship which will be held by June 2022 at the Abuja Velodrome.

This meeting was after he pointed out key elements that will soar the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area(AFCTA) at the 4th Edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo.

Folarin-Coker, acting in his official capacity and representative of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo lauded the integration of the #AFCTA but also pointed out its success is dependent on funding, innovation, and future-oriented plans due to the advantage Nigeria has in its population.

He also emphasized the importance of embracing technology because this will be the driving force of the Initiative.

Further checks the unrelenting campaigner of Tourism a viable alternative to Oil took his campaign for the rich tourism potentials abroad last week.

The holder of a bachelor’s degree in combined studies, Economic and Geography, and postgraduate degrees in diplomacy, international trade, and finance presented a virtual package on the “undiscovered” destination #Nigeria to Rida International Travel, Tourism’s agents and sales teams in Asia.

And went on to host, Mr Masudur Rahman to Nigeria with who he talked about tourism and business opportunities, as well as the many complementarities and similarities between Nigeria and Bangladesh