In the wake of developments which have greeted the tourism sector of the world’s socio-economy, many countries with intriguing tourist sites to behold have keyed in to making the best out of them.
However, in Africa where these sites abound beautifully in excess, there are evidently more to be done in order to bring the world visiting her shores for tourism.
Taking an instance from my personal but fundamental observation and drive as a local guide in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and naturally endowed country; there is no gainsaying the fact that the world is yet to know the excesses of these natural beauties in the country. Why? Because the country’s authorities have only concentrated their concerted efforts on only the oil and agricultural sectors, thus leaving the veil to cover the fallowing tourist potentials.
“That cannot be right in this century,” I said to myself, as I decided to avail myself the Google Maps privileges by exposing these places to the world through the platform as self-less passion.
“Okene,” as my district is popularly known in Kogi State, Nigeria possesses these natural endowments.
Interestingly, because of the cultural or traditional histories and events that shaped the today lives of the people there are great and mythical stories (which I will be telling in subsequent posts), that surround and help one understand the sites better. You will find some of the sites in their natural states, not meddled with, and named in the local language, “Ebira.” Amongst others, they include Ekuku Dam, Upayi Mountain, Mount Cowries, Upogo Waterfall which is my favourite.
The first time I got hinted about the existence of a waterfall in my district, I did not believe my ears. That was just last year. Many do not know about it too. Since seeing is believing, I set out with my friends through the thick, in search of the fall. Deep in the middle of nowhere, we could hear the fall heavily dropping down from afar, but could not get through the bushy forest because there was no clear footpath through the bushy forest. So, we had to return back to the farmers settling close to the area to bail us out. It was a beauty to behold, yet untapped. “Only if there was a motorable road through to this place…” my company sighed. But I retorted, “only if we can expose it to the world through technology.
Then, Google Map came to mind.
To this end, the passion has not waned, for I know it will remain as long as these treasures are sitting somewhere in the land. Therefore, my resolve is to bring them closer and accessible to the world through Google Map because, that is what makes me a proud local guide. From this, I drew inspiration to also review related places such as stores, commercial centers, hotels and other places that most definitely complement tourism.