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Front of the Book: Celebrating Tourism On Mambilla

The sprawling Mammbilla plateau in Taraba State hosts tourists during this year's world tourism day

By Ibrahim Abdulaziz

Tourism no doubt has made the world a global village with people all over the world criss-crossing borders much more easily than before. With this in mind, the World Tourism Day provides an outstanding opportunity to educate policymakers and community leaders and create special events celebrating travel and tourism.

This year, Nigeria like other tourism friendly countries, celebrated the world tourism day, a day set aside by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, to create awareness on tourism. This time, the undulating mountain of Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State was the unique natural place to mark the day.

The choice of Mambilla as the host of this year's Word Tourism Day may not be a mere coincidence considering the enormous potentials of the area.

As early as 7am, the famous Mambilla hill was agog with people from different parts of the country and beyond, who came not only to catch a glimpse of the exhilarating cultural performances by the state, but to support its renewed commitment in tourism as an economic activity.

Taraba state referred to as "Nature’s gift to the nation," is richly blessed with a pleasant climate, magnificent rock formations and undulating hills capable of attracting any kind of tourism event in the world.

Taraba State is richly endowed with potentials for the development of tourism, and mineral resources and that includes the recent discovering of uranium in huge quantity. In recognition of this, the government has made concerted effort to improve areas of tourist attractions like Mambilla Tourist Center, Gumpti Park and Game Reserve in Gashaka, the Nwunyu fishing festival in Ibi which usually holds in April of each year where activities such as canoe racing, swimming competition and cultural dances are held.

Unfortunately, these gifts that have over the years become the trade-mark of the state are fast fading away due to lack of commitment by previous governments to protect and appreciate their values.

However, the hosting of this year's world tourism day was a unique opportunity for the state to bounce back and take its position in the booming tourism industry. And this was clearly the message of the chief host, Governor Danbaba Suntai at the event. Coincidentally, Suntai disclosed his mind before the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe whose passion for Taraba State has no limit. Suntai assured people of the state that they would not be left out in the development of tourism, adding that the choice of Taraba as host of this year's World Tourism Day was not misplaced.

He noted that effort is also being made to attract foreign investors to invest in the natural resources that abound in the state. Among festivals celebrated in the state are, Purma of the Chamba in Donga, Takum and Bali, the Puje of the Jukuns, Kuchecheb of Kutebs in Takum and Ussa and Kati of the Mambilla. Taraba state has various ethnic groups such as Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Wurkum, Fulani, Jukun, Jenjo Kuteb, Ichen,Tiv and Ndoro.

Also speaking, the Chairmen, Senate Committee on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Bako Gasol, disclosed the determination of the upper chamber of the National Assembly to support the state to ensure success. Gasol who is also from the state said given the right political will, packaging and marketing, the state would reduce poverty and create wealth for Nigerians.

The Mambilla Plateau in the southeast corner of Taraba State, shares a border with Cameroon. A high grassland plateau averaging about 1800 meters, it is scenic, cool and a pleasant destination. Mambilla has cattle ranches, tea plantations and rolling grassy hills. Also, the Gashaka Gumpti National Park in Taraba state is the most scenic of all the national parks in Nigeria. The park covers an area of 6,402 sq km. Potentially, it is also the most important site for nature tourism with pleasant sub temperate climate, beautiful array of scenery dominated by mountain valleys, rivers streams etc. The Park is home to some very highly endangered species of wild life.

The park comprises of two sectors, each rich in its own unique flora and fauna species. The Gumpti sector is located in its northern fringe while the Gashaka is on the southern fringe. The twin park is regarded as the largest in Nigeria and covers a vast land of mountains and valleys shared between two states - Adamawa and Taraba in North-East Nigeria.

The park contains some historic sites, one of which is the Old German Fort at Gashaka Hill. Gangarwal peak of the Chapal Wadi Mountain located in the Park is the highest peak in Nigeria. The fauna includes chimpanzees, cheetahs, leopards, giant forest hogs, colombo monkeys, among others. The Park is also a spawning ground for some fish species such as Nile perch and electric fish. Indeed, this year's World Tourism Day was celebrated where it ought to be.

	Front of the Book: Celebrating Tourism On Mambilla
	The sprawling Mammbilla plateau in Taraba State hosts tourists during this year's world tourism day By Ibrahim Abdulaziz Tourism no doubt has made the world a global village with people all over the world criss-crossing borders much more easily than before. With this in mind, the World Tourism Day provides an outstanding opportunity to educate policymakers and community leaders and create special events celebrating travel and tourism. This year, Nigeria like other tourism friendly countries, celebrated the world tourism day, a day set aside by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, to create awareness on tourism. This time, the undulating mountain of Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State was the unique natural place to mark the day. The choice of Mambilla as the host of this year's Word Tourism Day may not be a mere coincidence considering the enormous potentials of the area. As early as 7am, the famous Mambilla hill was agog with people from different parts of the country and beyond, who came not only to catch a glimpse of the exhilarating cultural performances by the state, but to support its renewed commitment in tourism as an economic activity. Taraba state referred to as "Nature’s gift to the nation," is richly blessed with a pleasant climate, magnificent rock formations and undulating hills capable of attracting any kind of tourism event in the world. Taraba State is richly endowed with potentials for the development of tourism, and mineral resources and that includes the recent discovering of uranium in huge quantity. In recognition of this, the government has made concerted effort to improve areas of tourist attractions like Mambilla Tourist Center, Gumpti Park and Game Reserve in Gashaka, the Nwunyu fishing festival in Ibi which usually holds in April of each year where activities such as canoe racing, swimming competition and cultural dances are held. Unfortunately, these gifts that have over the years become the trade-mark of the state are fast fading away due to lack of commitment by previous governments to protect and appreciate their values. However, the hosting of this year's world tourism day was a unique opportunity for the state to bounce back and take its position in the booming tourism industry. And this was clearly the message of the chief host, Governor Danbaba Suntai at the event. Coincidentally, Suntai disclosed his mind before the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe whose passion for Taraba State has no limit. Suntai assured people of the state that they would not be left out in the development of tourism, adding that the choice of Taraba as host of this year's World Tourism Day was not misplaced. He noted that effort is also being made to attract foreign investors to invest in the natural resources that abound in the state. Among festivals celebrated in the state are, Purma of the Chamba in Donga, Takum and Bali, the Puje of the Jukuns, Kuchecheb of Kutebs in Takum and Ussa and Kati of the Mambilla. Taraba state has various ethnic groups such as Chamba, Mumuye, Mambila, Wurkum, Fulani, Jukun, Jenjo Kuteb, Ichen,Tiv and Ndoro. Also speaking, the Chairmen, Senate Committee on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Bako Gasol, disclosed the determination of the upper chamber of the National Assembly to support the state to ensure success. Gasol who is also from the state said given the right political will, packaging and marketing, the state would reduce poverty and create wealth for Nigerians. The Mambilla Plateau in the southeast corner of Taraba State, shares a border with Cameroon. A high grassland plateau averaging about 1800 meters, it is scenic, cool and a pleasant destination. Mambilla has cattle ranches, tea plantations and rolling grassy hills. Also, the Gashaka Gumpti National Park in Taraba state is the most scenic of all the national parks in Nigeria. The park covers an area of 6,402 sq km. Potentially, it is also the most important site for nature tourism with pleasant sub temperate climate, beautiful array of scenery dominated by mountain valleys, rivers streams etc. The Park is home to some very highly endangered species of wild life. The park comprises of two sectors, each rich in its own unique flora and fauna species. The Gumpti sector is located in its northern fringe while the Gashaka is on the southern fringe. The twin park is regarded as the largest in Nigeria and covers a vast land of mountains and valleys shared between two states - Adamawa and Taraba in North-East Nigeria. The park contains some historic sites, one of which is the Old German Fort at Gashaka Hill. Gangarwal peak of the Chapal Wadi Mountain located in the Park is the highest peak in Nigeria. The fauna includes chimpanzees, cheetahs, leopards, giant forest hogs, colombo monkeys, among others. The Park is also a spawning ground for some fish species such as Nile perch and electric fish. Indeed, this year's World Tourism Day was celebrated where it ought to be.