The federal capital territory took a new look on the 7th of December 2023 with tourism stakeholders trooping into the city from in and outside the country. Speaking at the event the mandate secretary of the social development secretariat, Hon.Ibrahim Aminu said , Abuja will claim a strategic position in the world’s tourism map. He said this at the 2023 Tourism Volunteers Summit, organised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Volunteers Network. He added that the FCT Minister and the Minister of State were working round the clock to ensure that the territory lived up to its name as a befitting capital city for Nigeria.

This, he said, the network would achieve through patriotism and volunteerism. “In an effort to bridge this gap and provide for tourism investment opportunities at the FCT, our team created this initiative,” he said. Robert added that the FCT Tourism Volunteers Summit and the Area Council Tourism Investment Pitch and Expo were aimed at rejuvenating the patriotic spirit of Nigerians, especially the FCT residents.

The team lead of the network Amb.Phil Roberts added that the FCT Tourism Volunteers Summit and the Area Council Tourism Investment Pitch and Expo were aimed at rejuvenating the patriotic spirit of Nigerians, especially the FCT residents.

The Director FCT Tourism Department Mrs Ann Nenadi Dogo thanked the dinitries at the just concluded event as she expressed optimism that the project would promote patriotism and volunteerism to positively engage Nigerians to use their skills, careers, and professions for the promotion of tourism as a tool for socio-economic growth. According to her, the tourism volunteers network is designed to be the biggest orientation platform for tourism education, promotion, and advocacy for the protection of tourist sites. Also speaking at the event, The representative of the Secretary to the government of the federation Sen.George Akume said this new initiative will help in discovering tourism investment sites in collaboration with the FCT tourism department as she thanked the organisersfor such a great idea as she also promised working closelywith the team. She also added that the Nigerian national volunteers service will give major support to the network to help them achive more heights.

The event also featured special remarks from the office of the senate majority leader Sen. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele who promised to be a major supporter to the network as the event climax was the certificate presentation to major tourism organisations like NATOP, NIHOTOUR, FTAN, Institute of tourism practitioners and the Nigerian national park.

Tourism Volunteers Summit was put together to commemorate International Volunteers Day, celebrated by the United Nations, to create a unique and sustainable platform for patriots. The theme for this year’s summit is: volunteerism weaves us together/Exploring Tourism Potential through Volunteerism for Social and Economic Development with representatives from various Embassies, as the event also had the representative of the sheikh of Dubai.

Attendees at the event includes the representative vice president of Nigeria, The secretary to the government of the federation of Nigeria, Senator George Akume, the distinguished leader of the senate, senator Micheal opeyemi bamidele other distinguished members, Sen.Ned Nwoko, members of National assembly represented here, representative of the minister for state FCT, representatives of the Minister of tourism , Minister of state, police, Minister for arts, culture and creative economy, the mandate secretaryof the social development secretariat, Hon Ibrahim Aminu, The mandate secretary Area councils services Hon Lawrence Bitrus Garki was present to represent All the chairman of the various Area councils , the director of Tourism in the FCT, Mrs Ann, Nenadi Dogo, all directors of the SDS and the FCTA, Emirs, Traditional rulers,elder councils of the good people of Abuja, the Embassies and ambassadors, tourism organisations and associations, Dr Daniel Akpaida of up land Real estate,National arts gallery, Fct Tourism volunteers partners , members of the FCT Tourism Volunteers, who are the bed rock of tourism greatness, and members of the press .