The Place of Traditional Artists in the Preservation of Nigerian Art

Human beings have always left signs of their activities behind them. These signs take both tangible and intangible forms, including buildings, sites, sculptural works, antiquities, rock art paintings, belief systems, and traditions. The people of this millennium have recognized the remains of our fore-bears namely archaeological, architectural monuments, sites, and cultural works as an integral part of the cultural heritage of all humanity. They also recognized the fact that heritage is an invaluable source of information about the lives and activities of human beings and their artistic and technical capabilities over the centuries. The Nigerian Ancient Art Tradition which spans eight thousand years is a product of diverse artists from Dufuna, Nok, Igbo-Ukwu, Ife, Owo, Benin, Tada, etc. Also remarkable are the sculptural works created by late Susanne Wenger (an Austrian) and her New Sacred Art Movement in Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, which gave meaning to open spaces within the grove. This paper examines the role played by these artworks to project Nigeria to the global art world. The benefits to Nigeria and the global art traditions and recommendations on how to revive this dwindling economic resource will also be examined. The approach used was to study the artworks produced by some of these artists. Some of the findings were that the works were carefully done with suitable materials that have withstood climate change.

The Distribution of Hospitality Services in Uyo Urban, Nigeria

This paper examines the distribution of hospitality services in Uyo Urban, Nigeria. GIS method was the primary tool used for data collection. A global positioning system (GPS) Garmin 60 model was used in tracking the location of 102 hospitality services in the study area. One hypothesis was stated and tested using the nearest neighbour analysis. The finding shows evidence of clustering of the various hospitality services. The tested hypothesis further indicated that hospitality services clustered in areas that guarantee a sustainable level of patronage to maximize profit. Thus, the hospitality services clustered in selected streets in the metropolis while limited numbers were found outside the city’s central area.

Ethnoarchaeological Study of Pottery Tradition in Usambe, Ikyurav-Ya, Southeastern Tiv Land, Benue State, Nigeria

Pottery production has been recognized as one of the ancient Tiv practices that have survived to this day. Therefore, whenever remains of pottery objects are identified at an archaeological site within the Tivland, they usually contain tangible information regarding the group that made and used them. This research is an ethnoarchaeological investigation of pottery tradition in Usambe community. The researcher uses ethnographic information on pottery production and usage in the area to infer about the cultural formation process, growth and advancement of the Tiv people that made and used clay wares found in fragments on the hills of Usambe. The results, however, align with the position of various scholars of Tiv tradition that the hills located in the present Usambe community are among the hills inhabited by the Tiv people during their exodus into the Benue Valley of Nigeria.

Sustainable Safety and Preservation Mechanisms for Cross River Monoliths

Monoliths are age-long stone formations that have represented and given clues to the reconstruction and interpretation of the extinct cultures. Their tourism motivation to localities is inestimable. Incidentally, these monumental edifices of human cultural history have faced the challenges of safety and preservation. For example, the Cross River Monoliths have continued to deteriorate and are being destroyed in the recent past due to the activities of man and nature along with other safety issues facing the monoliths, its owners and visitors. Some rescue mechanisms have been employed made in tincluding the assembling of these monoliths to a designated location in an open-air museum. This paper contends that more needs to be done in this regard. The study proposes Mix Method Approach (MMA), which is a conglomeration of interdependent practices, to enhance the safety and preservation of the Cross River monoliths for both posterity and tourism development in the area. The implication of the study is the introduction of further directions in monolith studies and preservations in Africa and beyond.

Strategies for Sustainable Quality Service Delivery in Hotels in Owerri

This study sought to determine strategies for sustainable quality service delivery in hotels in Owerri. Two research questions guided the study. The study population comprised all customers of registered hotels. It is an infinite population. The researcher used Cochran (1977) formula for determining sample size for an infinite population, and it gave a sample size of 384. A structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection which was validated by academics in Hospitality Management and Tourism, and Marketing. Crombach Alpha Coefficient of 0.73 was obtained confirming the usability of the instrument. Convenient sampling technique was adopted for data collection, which was analyzed using frequency, mean, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that the level of quality service delivery in the hotels studied was very poor as shown by the clustered mean. Similarly, the respondents agreed on specific strategies such as marketing research and anticipation of guest needs, employee empowerment, and training, among others for improving quality service delivery in hotels in the study area. Given the findings of the study, recommendations were made to the effect that hotel operations are encouraged to carry out periodic service quality assessment to determine customer service quality perceptions and also develop sustainable feedback mechanisms such as comment cards and other online interactive platforms that can facilitate constant updates on customer needs and wants.

Utilization of Celebrity Endorsement as a Marketing Strategy in Hospitality Operations in Owerri, Imo State

This study examined the utilization of celebrity endorsement as a marketing strategy in hospitality operations in Owerri, Imo state. The study population was drawn from top management staff of registered star hotels operating in Owerri. A structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection which was validated by three (3) academics in Hospitality and Tourism Management and two (2) academics in Marketing Departments. Data were collected and analyzed using frequency and mean. Findings revealed that the level of utilization of celebrity endorsement in hospitality operations in the study area was poor. Some of the factors affecting the usage of this strategy were also determined. Based on the findings, recommendations were given on how celebrity endorsement as a Marketing strategy can be utilized in hospitality operations for sustainable operations.

The Role of Music to Tourism Development in Nigeria

Nigeria, with a huge landmass comprising different people, languages, festivals, music, dance and rich cultural diversity, is actually a tourist preferred destination. Sitting on potential tourism goldmine, Nigeria is unarguably one of those few countries in the world that are blessed with rich culture and less natural disasters. This paper highlights the attributes of music as a place locator, icon developer, image enhancer and promoter of national harmony. Understanding the role of music in tourism development and investing in promoting indigenous lyrics and music is a sure way to the economic and social development of any tourist nation

Insecurity in Agrarian Communities: Threats to Food Security in Nigeria in the 21st Century

This paper examined how the herdsmen/farmers clashes across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria have grown, spread and intensified over the past decade and today poses a threat to food shortage and national survival. In the recent history of Nigeria, so many people have been killed, communities have been destroyed, and thousands of farmers and pastoralists have lost their lives and properties in the brutal and barbaric act of killings, massacre and attempt at ethnic cleansing and destruction. The evil act is not only continuously destroying livelihood but is also affecting and causing hunger, crisis, and posing challenges to agriculture, Agric-business, and small farmers, who are the drivers of the nation’s agricultural value chain. Herdsmen/farmers clash hinders government ability to provide training, chemicals and other products needed to improve crop yield. Farmers need peace and stability for them to go back to their farmlands. The study adopted the descriptive design. It drew upon primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include oral information and testimonies. Newspapers and magazines reports were also used in conjunction with official records in government publications. Secondary sources include relevant books. The researchers made use of the direct observation method. All the pieces of information so gathered were subjected to critical historical analysis.

Legal Pluralism and the Protection and Management of Cultural Landscapes in Nigeria

The protection and management of cultural heritage are central issues of discourse in cultural resources management today. Cultural landscapes constitute part of non-renewable resources that are finite and therefore need to be protected. All over the world especially, in Nigeria, archaeological sites and resources are neglected and to a large extent destroyed due to the inability of the public, stakeholders, educationists, and developers to appreciate the enormous contributions of cultural landscapes to national development. The laws that have been put in place for the protection and management of cultural landscapes, particularly those that prevent them from being destroyed by construction companies and other development projects, are not fully implemented. This paper intends to draw the attention of relevant Nigerian authorities to the applicable laws and the need to enforce them. This will ensure that development does not result in the unmitigated destruction of archaeological sites and cultural heritage.

Awareness of the Tourism Brand Name of Plateau State Among Tourists

Brand naming is a potent marketing strategy/mechanism. Its awareness precedes consideration and trial which are all quite central to the success of any marketing outfit. They follow each other sequentially: awareness leads to consideration and consideration is later followed by trial or purchase/patronage. The goal of the study was to assess the awareness of tourists about the tourism brand name of Plateau State. The tourism slogan of Plateau State is ‘Home of Peace and Tourism.’ The study was undertaken in nine purposively selected tourist sites in the state in which 1,023 tourists were sampled and interviewed using both convenience and availability procedures. The study confirmed that Plateau State is very rich in tourist attractions, which if adequately planned, developed, managed and promoted will make her one of the leading tourist destinations in Nigeria. The state in her marketing strategy has coined an enchanting brand name as her tourism brand name. The result shows that the brand name is popular among tourists who saw meaning and sense in it from their experiences. They applauded the brand name, but a good number pointed to the fact that peace is too fragile and elusive in Plateau State. This should be addressed holistically to ensure that the brand name and its input are sustainable. It was surprisingly pointed out that the phenomenon of logo or symbol design and development which altogether goes with brand naming is completely ignored and there is need to do just that to make the branding of Plateau State as tourism destination holistic and complete.