The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, has commended Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas for paying special attention to the development of the tourism sector.
The minister gave the commendation on Saturday in a goodwill message during the Nwonyo International Fishing and Cultural Festival at Ibbi, Taraba State.
She said the tourism sector is now a major source of foreign earnings globally.
She, however, stressed the need for states to fully develop their tourism sector in order to attract foreign tourists.
She said the decision of Governor Kefas to revive the fishing festival, which was abandoned for many years, was a clear indication that the governor was fully committed to developing the tourism sector.
The minister said Taraba had huge tourism potentials and rich cultural heritage, which if fully developed, the state and the country stood to benefit more in terms of foreign earnings.
She, therefore, pledged her ministry's support and assistance to Taraba government to enable the state achieve its desire to harness tourism potentials.
Also speaking at the event, the immediate past deputy governor of the state and senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial Zone, Alhaji Haruna Manu, said the fishing festival was an avenue to showcase the rich tourism potential of the state.
Manu who also represented the National Assembly at the event pledged that the National Assembly would assist Taraba State government to put the Nwonyo fishing festival on the global tourism map in order to attract tourists into the state.
During the event, 170kg fish catch was recorded and a new car was presented to the fisherman, Hudu Yakubu who caught the biggest fish and took the first position.
He was followed by Yusuf Abubakar who caught 150kg fish to take the second position and was presented with a brand new motorcycle while Samaila Yakubu who caught 120 kg fish took the third position and was presented with a grinding machine.
Governor Kefas presented the new car to Yakubu during the occasion.
Other events that featured during the fishing festival included boat racing and swimming.
