Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has hinted of the plans of his administration to take advantage of the huge potential in the hospitality sector to create jobs for youths in the state.
The governor, who spoke on Friday at the inauguration of The George, a hotel, in Ikoyi, Lagos, said the government would expand the frontiers of the hospitality industry in the state so as to attract investments.
He said the current economic realities in the country had made it necessary for the state to develop a non-oil sector to ensure sustainable revenue source.
Ambode said relevant policies and incentives would be put in place to create an enabling environment for the development of the sector, which according to him, is a key driver of his administration’s agenda.
He added, “This is a happy occasion because it has reaffirmed the status of Lagos State as the first choice destination of investment. It also confirms the untapped opportunities in tourism and hospitality sector in Lagos.
“Lagos is known as the Centre of Excellence for a number of reasons. One of these is the accommodating nature of our people and the various tourism and recreation sites that abound in the state.
“We are committed to putting in place relevant policies and incentives that will create an enabling environment for the development of the hospitality sector as a key driver of our administration’s development agenda.”
The governor also called on other investors to key into the various opportunities that abound in the tourism belt spread across the state.
“Lagos is open for business. We assure you of the safety of your investments and we will continue working to make your investment worthwhile in all cases,” he stated.
Ambode commended the management of The George for investing in the provision of accessible road and street lighting within the location of the hotel as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
“This gesture shows you as a worthy partner of the state government in infrastructural development,” he said.
He later handed over a letter of commendation to the management of the hotel, saying the same gesture would be accorded worthy citizens who contribute to the growth and development of the state.
Chairman of the hotel, Mr. Tien George, said with the setting up of the hotel, it intended to play a key role in the development of tourism in Lagos as well as provide employment for the teeming youths in Lagos and Nigeria.
“We want to lift the hospitality business in Nigeria to a completely new pedestal. We believe it is not worth our trouble to do what everybody else has done; we need to do something different. We want to show our young men and women that the best of the world is possible in Nigeria,” he said.
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