RELIGIOUS TOURISM AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA A CASE STUDY OF THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, REDEMPTION CAMP, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

RELIGIOUS TOURISM AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA A CASE STUDY OF THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD, REDEMPTION CAMP, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

PAPER DELIVERED BY DR (MRS) OBATERU F.B. (Fellow HATMAN)

          Developing countries like Nigeria, has every opportunity to promote tourism as an intervention in sustaining her economy going by the current trend of globalization in the industry. Tourism provides the platform by which conservation and natural resources could be optimized for environmental benefits of human use of the ecosystem and biodiversity (Obateru 2014).Tourism embraces a vast and diverse range of activities, from large scale mass or package tour to small-scale. It involves an individually tailored holiday from internal domestic visits to family or friends to international or intercontinental journeys. It is no longer an occasional past time of the rich but the largest industry generating millions of job globally (Aremu 2008).

—  RELIGIOUS TOURISM IN NIGERIA

          Travel or religious tourism for religious reason is an ancient human activity as any one posse. Religious tourism encourage both domestic and foreign private sector investment by putting package of incentives capable of attracting such investments Kolawole Etal (2011) Religion has been a powerful force which has long caused people to travel to religious centers in many parts of the world like travelling to ancient cities of Palestine and Israel by the Christians and Mecca by the Muslims.

          Religious tourism at RCCG Redemption Camp dates back to March 1986 Ukah (2008) which has been advertised as an interdenominational miracle service, an all-night programme of prayers that attracts close to 2,000 people at the Redemption Camp marked the beginning of revival and religious tourism as today people come from all over the world to attend the Holy Ghost Services and Special Holy Ghost services and Holy Ghost congress at the Redemption Camp. Religion had also played significant role in tourism development through pilgrimages and visits of adherent to designated religious sites. Nevertheless, this had rarely received wide acknowledgement in Nigeria,probably due to its volatile nature among the different religious groups in the country. It is essentially important to harness this vast potential (Religious tourism) to improve livelihood in Nigeria. Obateru (2014)

          However, in Nigeria beyond several allusions by government on the promotion of tourism, religion has continued to play a pivotal role in the development of tourism. In the country many dignitaries have in recent time found Nigeria as the essential balm to many of their spiritual problems, with many heads of government visiting Nigeria to seek solution. For example King Godwill Zivelithini of the Zulus from South Africa in 2007, King Moloto Solomon of Limpopo South Africa in 2006. Frederick Chiluba, Former President of Zambia visited Synagogue Church of all Nations in 1999, President Omar Bongo of Gabon also at Synagogue Church of all Nations. John Atta Mills of Ghana also visited Synagogue shortly before he was elected President and also after being elected in 2000 and also 2010.    

          The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) one of the leading Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria has contributed to the phenomenal growth of religious tourism through its monthly Holy Ghost Service and the yearly Holy Ghost Congress (Adeboye, 2009). The number of people both Nigerians and foreigners that attend these programmes is said to be in excess of five hundred thousand and in fact   millions, a boost for tourism. Loburo forest had been the destination and the base of the religious activity   of the Redeemed Christian Church (The Redemption Camp) since 1983 and it is the pioneering site of religious activities since then. It is of paramount importance to document part of the activities with special regard to the status of   socioeconomic factors that had been affected in the area since the beginning of these activities.

—  NTDC (2009) stated that for 2009 the Holy Ghost congress that over 872,200 average attendant daily for the one week  participated for the programme and about 2400 foreign tourist from 30 countries of the world  with the total expenditure of N1060,959,100 ,International expenditure N23,148,600 with total of N1,469,667,700

—  All these tourist were accommodated at the redemption camp these activities have brought about 10 hotels, chalets, and guest houses 50%, 20% single room, 20% double room and 10% Suite   these has helped  both indigenes and none indigenes   employment  opportunities, record shows that 32% are indigenes and 66.7%  non indigenes apart from the employment it also helped in development  and beautification of the redemption Camp.

—  

 EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

          Religious activities thus far has a nursery and primary school Christ the Redeemers nursery and primary school, Redeemers High School, Redeemers University for Nations, Christ Redeemers Bible College, School of Disciples all these educational schools and institutions have provided job opportunities for both the host communities and others from the other parts of the country.

—  LARGE AND SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES:

          Religious Tourism has either directly or indirectly provided large and small scale industries at the camp here are some of the industries;

          Printing press, bookshop, sawmill, water work, individual electricity turbine, roofing sheet and iron sheet industries, photography, tipper owners, bakery, tailoring, carpentry welding, electricians, other types of job opportunities are cleaners, security guards, road maintenance officers, horticulturist, drivers, waiters, cooks, housekeepers, car hire, market sellers selling local artifact and house hold materials these has gone a long way with many that would have been rendered jobless.    

WAY FORWARD

—  One thing we have refused to realize is that if more religious activities are encouraged in other parts of the country many people will be gainfully employed and the problem of lack of employment reduced. Even though we have some religious body that embark on religious tourism like Winners chapel, Nasfat, Baptist convention, more religious bodies should encourage different activities that can boost entrepreneurial activities, we cannot leave all for the federal, state and local governments despite the fact that a lot is expected of them in the arrears of granting loans, creating awareness, ensuring peace and security for both the local and international tourist.

CONCLUSION

          In this paper it was discovered that because of the activities that takes place from time to time development like good accessibility, electricity 24 hours of the day,  schools, banks, hospitals, market,  accommodation small and large scale industries etc that can afford a tourist to feel home away from home is provided and has since accelerated entrepreneurial activities.

RECOMMENDATION

—  Soft loans be provided for individuals who so wish to be involved in entrepreneurial activities.

—  More awareness should be provided for the benefits that can be accrued from these activities.

—  Government should try as much as possible to inter vain in the aspect of peace and security of our great nation in order to encourage and boost international tourists.

—  Our press men should endeavour to always say positive things in the media that will promote our great nation.

—  Our culture should be promoted more than ever before.

—  Local made gifts item and souvenirs that tourist will take home should be provided.

{TOURISM ARTICLES} 

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