VICTOR ANTAI: REVOLUTIONISING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN AKWA IBOM STATE

It was Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew that asserted, "In a different world, we need to find a niche for ourselves, little corners where in spite of our small size, we can perform a role which will be useful to the world." He didn't end there, he went further to say, "To do that, you need people at the top, decision makers who have got foresight, good minds, who are open to ideas, who can seize opportunities like we did...So there must be this continuous renewal of talented, dedicated, honest, able people who will do things not for themselves but for their people and for their country. If they can do that, they will carry on for another one generation and so it goes on." This can be said about Rt. Hon. Victor Antai, the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism.

Let me take us to memory lane. When Lee Kuan Yew came into power in 1959, he met a battered economy but didn't look for who to blame. He fold his long sleeves and get down to work. Lee oversaw Singapore's transformation from a stagnant British colony to an Asian Tiger economy. He eschewed populist policiesin favour of pragmatic long-term social and economic measures. Throughout the tenure of his office, Lee always placed great importance on developing the economy. During the three decades in which Lee held office, Singapore grew from a developing country to one of the most developed nations in Asia. He submitted that Singapore's only natural resources are its people and their strong work ethic. Lee's achievements in Singapore had a profound effect on the communist leadership in China, who made a great effort especially under Deng Xiaoping, to emulate his policies, entrepreneurship and subtle suppression of dissents. Over 22,000 Chinese officials were sent to Singapore to study the methods. Many of his policies are now taught at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Like the Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew who turned the story of Singapore around and make it a global discussion, Rt. Hon. Victor Antai has change the narrative of Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Akwa Ibom State making it a topic of discussion at every fora especially social media platforms where the name Akwa Ibom State is trending because of the revolution that he has brought to that ministry. 

The just concluded Orange Festival which featured about 180 cultural troupes and widely attended by Akwa Ibom people across board is a pointer to the fact that when the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoices.  You will agree with me that for years nothing have been heard about Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a ministry saddled with the responsibility to promote our rich cultural heritage, identify and develop tourist sites in the state which should attract investors and tourists to the state and also boost our internally generated revenue (IGR), but that was not forthcoming.

Today, Victor Antai is a household name in Akwa Ibom State. He is accessible to both the young and old alikes even to those he has not met before in life. That is the true character of a genuine politician. It will not be out of place to submit that he remain the most popular politician in the entire Oro Nation as his followers cut across ethnic boundary, stepping into the big shoe of late Pastor Oyong Asuquo of blessed memory.

Few months when he was redeployed by His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to Ministry of Culture and Tourism, he didn't complain like others have been doing but he stepped in and commence work. He revolutionized the once moribund ministry and introduced more ideas and innovations changing the tourism narrative in Akwa Ibom State. How did he achieved this? Like Singaporean leader, Lee Kuan Yew submitted, he is open to ideas and innovations. Again, he work with talented, dedicated, honest and able people who are committed to translate his vision for the ministry, leaving it better than he met. The reason so many people failed in governance and business is because they are closed-minded and not open to inputs from others but it is a different case with Victor Antai.

In the first few months after resuming duty, he launched the brand logo of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism though widely criticized but its aim was achieved because for a ministry that is created to market our state cultural heritage to the global community, it must be branded and that was achieved. Few weeks later, hosted an Art and Craft Exhibition "Usoro Uso" at the prestigious Ibibio Union Museum which attracted notable personalities and top diplomats including African envoy, Nollywood Actress and United Nations Country Coordinator, Edward Kallon. The event was remarkable and received commendations across board.

When the idea of Orange September was launched on facebook, over 7000 people from the state welcomed it and were coloured with Akwa Ibom State orange colour. Like every other viable project that has always met strong opposition, the Colour Me Orange was not exempted. Only a few pockets of critism couldn't bury the idea whose time has come especially as the state is celebrating 30 years anniversary. So many programmes has been lined up by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism including Ndoko, Dise, Cultural festival amongst others. The yesterday successful completion of the Orange Festival which featured the best of our cultural heritage has received wide commendations and applauded even by non indigenes. 

The concluded Orange Festival is a justification that Akwa Ibom State is blessed with rich culture and tourism potentials that needed to be harnessed. As I muted to the Honourable Commissioner yesterday after the cultural procession and display by all the troupes, that there is need for the cultural festival to be an annual event which is also the thinking of so many patriotic sons and daughters of the state. Like he stated yesterday during the flag-off of the Orange Cultural Festival, that the event is aimed to attract tourism traffic to the state, I want to submit that with IBOM CULTURAL FESTIVAL where every socio-cultural organizations (Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Ati Annang, Oron Union, Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Mboho Ikot Abasi, etc) have prominent role to play with decency in accordance with our cultural values, we will rival any other cultural festival across the country.

Having followed the activities of Rt. Hon. Victor Antai since his days as Chairman of Mbo Local Government Area from 2008 till 2015 before being appointed the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before being redeployed to the present office as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, I can say authoritatively that he is running an open door policy and has embraced everyone that comes his way. No wonder the bulk of those working with him are not his kinsmen but young Akwa Ibom people who have something to offer the state and he has accommodated them. A major player in the Divine Mandate Project, he has instill a new life into a once forgotten ministry and deserves commendation. In summary, Rt. Hon. Victor Antai is a round peg in a round hole and should be given higher responsibilities. 

Born on May 19, 1965 in Oduo Ebughu village in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Antai holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State. He has a strong political inclination has served the people of Mbo LGA as Executive Chairman between 2008 and 2015. While serving as Council boss, he was also saddled with another responsibility as Welfare Officer of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) from 2008 to 2011, and was later appointed as Secretary of ALGON in 2012.

Rt. Hon. Victor Antai has received many accolades and awards for his contribution to the development of his people. In 2013, he won the Best Local Government Chairman Award on Infrastructural Development by House of Representatives Committee on Local Government. He has also received Award of Recognition by Oro Union, Honorary Membership Award by Ati Annang, Eldership Award by Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Oron and Chieftaincy Title of Nte-Nte by Oduo Ebughu Council of Chiefs, among others.

Courtesy: Ubong Creativity David