The Minister of Information and Culture made the remark at a retreat for management staff and Curators of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, held in Kano.

The minister, represented by the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Yusuf Abdallah, said promoting the nation’s heritage sites would not only boost tourism, but also create job opportunities and enhance socio-economic activities in the country.

“The government is making efforts to develop and promote heritage sites with a view to boosting tourism in the country for the overall economic development of the nation.

He, however, regretted that the efforts had suffered setbacks due to the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements in the country.

The Minister, however, called on the participants to come up with tangible recommendations for immediate implementation by the Federal Government.

In his remarks, the Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Yusuf Abdallah, called on the Kano State Government to support current efforts toward enlisting the Kano Historical Urban Landscape on the world list.

He said the call was necessary in view of the immense benefits the project would bring to the people of Kano State, in particular, and Nigerians, in general.

“I want to request His Excellency, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and His Highness, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, to support our efforts toward enlisting the Kano historical urban landscape on the world list,”  he said.

Abdallah said although the world Heritage nomination process in Nigeria had faced a number of challenges, but the challenges were not insurmountable as experience with Sukur and the Osun Osogbo Festival have shown.

“With support from the local communities and state governments, most of the challenges being encountered during the nomination process can be surmounted,’’ he said.

Abdallah said the retreat was a follow up to the 2016 edition where participants produced an action plan for the 2017-2021 period.

According to him, the participants would now review the action plan in the light of the current realities, for effective implementation.

“The objective is to make the preservation of our heritage resources part of the National development agenda,’’ Abdallah said.

He noted that for several years, UNESCO had made concerted efforts to raise awareness on the immeasurable contributions culture could make to the economic, environmental and social spheres of development. (NAN)