Nigerian President to be Keynote Speaker at 3rd IIPT African Conference

H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Current Chairperson of the African Union. His Excellency Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria will be the featured Keynote Speaker at the 3rd IIPT African Conference being held at the Hotel InterContinental, Lusaka, Zambia, February 6-11, 2005. President Obasnjo will share the platform with His Excellency Mr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa SC, President, Republic of Zambia who will open the Conference.

President Obasanjo has made significant contributions in the areas of peace, security, and conflict resolution; trade and resource flow; and a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Africa. He believes that Africa’s tourism future lies in its rich diversity in ethnicity, tribes, natural endowment and culture. “We must not only appreciate this diversity, we must protect and defend it, because in it lies our greatness.” President Obasanjo.

The Conference is being organized by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) in partnership with the Africa Travel Association (ATA) and hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Zambia. President Mwanawasa is Conference Patron.

Theme of the Conference is “Tourism: Pathway to a Peaceful and Prosperous Africa”
Its aim is to develop 21st century vision for African Tourism; the key strategies and partnering relationships to achieve that vision; and the action steps required to begin the journey.

Conference goals are to:
Provide a forum for leading government, industry, donor agency and NGO decision makers, as well as leading educators and practitioners to debate and reach consensus on a 21st Century vision for African Tourism.
Facilitate the development of strategic alliances and strategies to achieve that vision.
Demonstrate elements of that vision with “Success Stories” and Models of “Best Practice.”
Continue building a global awareness of Africa as a 21st Century destination.
The Conference will bring together Ministers of Tourism, senior African executives from both the public and private sectors of tourism, NGOs, donor agencies, educators, policy makers, leading practitioners, entrepreneurs, future leaders of the industry, and senior representatives of related sectors including environment, culture and economic development.

President Mwanawasa has declared the week of the conference: “National Peace through Tourism Week.” The week will open with a Ceremony at the Dag Hammarskjold Memorial Site, Ndola, Zambia commemorating his 100th birthday. Dag Hammarskjold will also be honored at a Special Luncheon on Tuesday, November 8th being hosted by the Swedish Embassy.

The week will close with the dedication of an IIPT International Peace Park in the land adjacent to Victoria Falls commemorating the 150th anniversary of the sighting of the Falls by Dr. David Livingstone, and the Centennial of the Town of Livingstone.

Chief Makuni of the Makuni Royal Palace, will preside over the Dedication Ceremony. The dedication is being organized by the Chief Makuni Royal Palace together with the Zambia National Heritage Conservation Commission and Sun International. Sun International is also serving as host of the Dedication Ceremony.

Lusaka Sister City – Los Angeles, will deliver proclamations of friendship and solidarity to both the Mayor of Lusaka, and President Mwanawasa.

February 7, 2005   Posted in: Africa