Tourism a Viable Path for Wealth Creation in Nigeria: An Analysis of Awka Metropolis

The global economic recession has posed new challenges to the world coupled with the challenges of new energy technology in response to global warming has dwindled the economy of so many nations today. Particularly petro-mono economy countries like Nigeria whose revenue base depends mostly on proceeds from crude oil exportation. Overdependence on crude oil is a sign of blunt future consequentially if the oil mine dries up. What would be the fate of the economy? Therefore it is time for Nigeria to spread the tentacles of her economic prowess to other service sectors such as Tourism for sustainable economic exploitation. Tourism is one of the most promising drivers of growth for the world economy. As a development vehicle, tourism resources are inexhaustible unlike crude oil. Nigeria specifically Awka has vast tourism potentials awaiting development. Little wonder the administration of former President Olusegun Obansanjo the set machinery in motion to turn the sector into a major revenue earner. The machinery included the introduction of various festivals across the country for the promotion of its rich cultural heritage to woo foreign tourists. With her appealing tourism resources, this paper advocates the development and exploitation of these resources for wealth creation.