THE CONTRIBUTION OF VULMA CULTURE IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ADAMAWA STATE.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF VULMA CULTURE IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ADAMAWA STATE.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Nigerian cultures are diverse in character, and as with most other cultures throughout the world, they have been influenced by external causes in the context of globalisation. In recent years, cultural regeneration has become a central theme in Nigeria among scholars, enlightened citizens, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), with the understanding that harnessing Nigeria’s cultural resources is the best bet for guiding the country towards sustainable development.

As a result, the call to prioritise investigation of multiple cultural elements in Nigeria has been loud and clear. In this study, we will focus on cultural tourism, which has not been adequately exploited.

Cultural tourism, if adequately utilised, will promote sustainable development and place Nigeria in a strategic position to export culture to the global environment.

According to Sharpley (2003:p34), community development in Nigeria eliminates suffering such as illiteracy and sickness, thereby improving the standard of living of the people within the community.

For example, the introduction of a compulsory free education programme (development project) in Nigeria during Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime helped to alleviate the suffering of illiteracy at the community level.

“Community development” also serves to enhance the economic, social, and cultural conditions of communities, allowing individuals to contribute meaningfully to the achievement of national goals. More to it.

Community development serves to eliminate or alleviate extreme poverty in Nigeria. The provision of social utilities such as water, roads, power, and hospitals, as well as a cherished culture that is part of community development, can help to reduce the country’s abject poverty.

Because when hospitals are established in a specific community, members of the community and a cherished culture recognised citizen will travel to witness the event, resulting in development and a higher standard of living for the people. It also provides social amenities such as roads, water, bridges, and other facilities.

Ife and Fiske (2006) created a model to demonstrate the elements of service provision as interpreted through a Community Development lens, incorporating Perkins’ emphasis on indigenous leadership and the historically colonial overtones of some Community Development endeavours.

And, according to Okiy, community development is the foundation for economic development, and knowledge is a critical component in the development process.

People of the community whether literate or not should have access to any kind of information which would allow them to become capable and productive in their social and political responsibilities, to become better educated citizens generally. Okiy (2003,1).

On the other hand, when communities are not developed, vices will emerge that drag a society down. According to Yahya, a lack of development correlates positively with the neglect of rural areas.

Rural neglect has negative consequences such as the exodus of rural dwellers to urban areas, resulting in problems such as unemployment, crime, prostitution, child labour, insecurity, money laundering, bribery, poverty, the proliferation of shanty towns, the spread of diseases, and the overstretched facilities and infrastructure in cities. Yahya (2009).

Based on a review of community development and its trend as evidenced by prior research, the researcher can conclude or claim that the contribution of culture to development is the foundation for community development and sustainability, through which community growth begins.

According to Okiy (2013), a lack of community development causes vice and disorder in the community, hence the researcher sees a necessity to