Abuja — Federal Government yesterday expressed its resolve to fully exploit Nigeria's rich cultural potentials as part of the implementation of an economic masterplan aimed at repositioning the country's economic base to achieve the target of becoming one of the world best economies in the year 2020.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan who stated government's position while declaring open the 3rd edition of the prestigious Abuja Carnival at the Eagle Square in Abuja, said Nigeria as the most populous black nation in the world hopes to turn her enormously rich and authentic cultural heritage to economic advantsge.

Jonathan who watched the captivating parade by all state cultural troupes with rapt attention from his sitting position at the VIP stand, said time has come for Africa and indeed all blacks all over the world to re-discover their cultural heritage and to deploy it for economic gains.

He said Nigeria's economic targets for the year 2020 cannot be fully achieved without the integration of efforts at developing a vibrant cultural heritage into the government's agenda.

"For us in Nigeria, the targets set in Vision 2020, cannot be completely achieved without full integration of our culture", he said.

He said developing a robust tourism sector is one sure way government can effectively diversify the country's economy to earn increased revenue.

According to the Vice President, government is hoping to use the tourism masterplan to encourage participation of the organised private sector in the development of tourism in the country.

"Our administration is pursuingthe establishmentof tourism circiuts nationwide with each of the six geo-political zones in the country being encouraged to identify key cultural activities and formulate a cultural calender for effective packaging to have maximumeffect", he said.

Earleir while welcoming participants at the event, the Ministerof Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Adetokunbo Kayode said the Abuja carnival is fast growing in scope and influence bothwithin Africa and beyond.

He said government is planing to make the hosting of the carnival a fully private sector-driven in the next 2 years.

The Ministersaid significant aspect of this years' carnival is the attendance by foreign countries, such Ghana, Niger and the Babardos who has stormed thecountry with their rich cultural dances.

The opening of the cultural festival kicked-off at exactly 9 am, with truck laods of cultural troupes heading towards the Eagle Square arena. As at noon, the venue was full to capacity with various cultural dances taking their turns to perform to the admiration to spectators.

Participants came with unique cultural displays, masquaereds of various kinds and shapes, war dancers, drummers, traditional gymnastics performers, and traditional dancers clothed in distinctives atires and designs all depicting the rich cultural masterpiece of the country.

Serveral Dignitaries including state governors, serving and past ministers and National Assembly members, traditional rulers as well as tourists from foriegn countries were at the carnival

The event which is expectedtolast till Sunday continues today at specially designated places arround the Federal Capital Territory.