The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left), and the South African Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, at a meeting in Lagos on Thursday.
Top Story

Tourism effective platform to strengthen ties with South Africa- Lai Mohammed

308

 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said Nigeria will continue to explore culture and tourism as veritable platforms to strengthen its ties with South Africa.

The minister added that culture and tourism are very effective avenues for cementing relationship between the two countries.

The Minister who stated this in Lagos, on Thursday, at a meeting with the South African Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, said in the wake of recent happenings in South Africa, such engagements and visitations at the highest level of government will inspire the citizens of both nations to continue to work harmoniously and live in peace.

He said: “We have always believed that culture and tourism are very effective platforms and avenues for cementing relationship between the two countries.

“A few years back, we did actually put in motion the machinery for cultural exchanges between Nigeria and South Africa and we are still working on it, because we believe that a lot of issues can be resolved when we bring to South Africa our very popular artistes because I am told that a few Nigerian musicians are extremely popular in South Africa and vice versa.

“In the last half an hour or so, we discussed and we have really seen that more things unite us than those that divide us and we have resolved, at least at the level of the leadership, to ensure that the good ties between Nigeria and South Africa continue, and also by example inspire our people to continue to work together and live as brothers and sisters, which they have done for many years.”

In her remarks, the South African Minister of Tourism, Kubayi-Ngubane, emphasized the need for cultural exchanges between the citizens of the two countries as a deliberate policy to strengthen the bond between them.

Kubayi-Ngubane said she is in Nigeria to further demonstrate her country’s commitment to the discussions held between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Muhammadu Buhari in South Africa, following the recent attacks on Nigerians in that country.

Kubayi-Ngubane however urged Nigerians to be wary of fake news, which is deliberately published to exacerbate the crisis in South Africa.

She said: “One of the issues that we reiterated was that we need to be careful of the fake news sometimes that exacerbate what is not real and what is not true, and that does not necessarily mean that we are abdicating our responsibilities as leaders.

”Where things have happened wrong, we take responsibility as leaders but what we are saying to our citizens in the two countries is that we need to be careful of fake news. Get the real story, verify the information before we take things out of context.”

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Abuja, Anambra stampede fatalities: Pres. Tinubu cancels official engagements, mourns

President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his official events in Lagos as a...

Deadly Stampede in Abuja: Police Report 10 Fatalities, Several Injuries

A food distribution event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama turned...

Breaking: NNPC Ltd. Slashes Petrol Price to N899 Per Litre

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced a significant...

No Shutdown: NNPC Ltd. Denies Report on Old Port Harcourt Refinery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed reports that...

Breaking: Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, Regains Freedom After Meeting Bail Terms

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been released from Kuje Custodial...

Justice Minister slams Edo Gov. Okpebholo over suspension of LG chairmen, declares it illegal

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi,...

Cyber attack hits National Bureau of Statistics website, recovery process initiated

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Wednesday night that its...

Alleged N110bln money laundering charge: Court admits Yahaya Bello to another N500m bail

Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has been granted...

Updated: 32 feared dead in Ibadan funfair tragedy: Ooni’s ex-wife, others arrested

At least, 32 children were feared killed during a stampede at a...

Ibadan Children’s Carnival Turns Deadly: Multiple Fatalities and Injuries Reported

Tragedy struck in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as a devastating stampede...

Breaking: Pres. Tinubu Presents “Budget of Restoration of “N4.96trn for 2025, Allocating N4.9trn for Security

President Bola Tinubu has presented a proposed budget of N4.96 trillion for...

N4.9trn budget presentation: Tinubu presents 2025 budget, declares 10th NASS members re-elected

President Bola Tinubu made a surprising declaration during his 2025 budget presentation...

Just in: Tinubu presents N47.9trn budget amid tight security at National Assembly

A heavy security presence has been deployed at the National Assembly complex...

NNPC Ltd. Secured $1bln Loan to Support Dangote Refinery, Facilitates $3bln Gazelle Loan – Soneye

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said that it...

Port Harcourt refinery operating smoothly, say labour, oil workers on fact-finding mission

A recent fact-finding visit by labour leaders has dispelled the uncertainties surrounding...

Rescheduled: Pres.Tinubu to present N47.9trn 2025 budget on Dec. 18

President Bola Tinubu has rescheduled the presentation of the N47.9 trillion 2025...

UniAbuja Renamed Yakubu Gowon University in Honour of ex-Nigerian Leader

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given the green light to rename...

Tragedy as Benue boat mishap claims 20 lives, 11 rescued

A boat mishap on River Benue has claimed 20 lives in the...

Tinubu Chairs 66th ECOWAS Summit to Address Regional Instability

President Bola Tinubu is currently chairing the 66th Ordinary Summit of the...

Nigeria’s First Lady empowers girls’ education in Osun with alternative school launch, donates N50m

Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has inaugurated an Alternative High School for...