Imo Tourism Identity Logo Contest kicks off June 1

 

                        Mazi Ohia

The Imo State Government under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has opened the Imo State Tourism Identity Logo Design Contest. 

Speaking to newsmen during a brief ceremony to mark the opening in his office at the State Secretariat, Owerri, over the weekend, the Hon. Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mazi Uche Ohia, Ph.D said that the contest was in fulfilment of the promise he made at the 2022 World Creativity and Innovation Day Ceremony, held at the International Exhibition Centre, Owerri on April 21, 2022 to throw the field open for Imolites to have an opportunity to create a tourism brand identity logo for the State.

He stated that government is projecting and promoting Imo State as an irresistible tourism destination and that a bold and attractive tourism logo is required to make the job easier. He said that the Ministry is focused on creating a brand identity for Imo Tourism to facilitate smooth tourism marketing aimed at increasing tourists traffic to Imo State. 

The Tourism Commissioner said that despite the prevailing insecurity in the country, Imo State still held the flag as the major hub of tourism and hospitality in Southern Nigeria and a safe place to relax and recreate in relative tranquility.

He said: "With a wide choice of exquisite hotels, eateries, lounges, shops, nightclubs, cinemas, travel agencies, event centres, etc  Imo has the best places to stay, to wine and dine, to hangout and to hold conferences".

According to Mazi Ohia: "Imo State is blessed with a natural location that is almost equidistant to all Southern Nigerian cities, numerous tertiary institutions, memorable tourist sites, the only surviving Zoo and wildlife park, breathtaking lakes, ecotourism sites and a tourism-friendly government that has prioritized security, infrastructure development and urban regeneration".

The Tourism Commissioner declared that as the government was trying its best to create an enabling environment for tourism to thrive, Imo people had a duty to complement the efforts of government by using every opportunity to promote the tourism potentials of the state and by desisting from demarketing the State in any form or manner especially on social media. 

He said that a brand identity reflective of the USP (Unique Selling Point) of the state would help greatly in massive tourism promotion. That, he said, is the aim of the Tourism Logo Contest. 

Mazi Uche Ohia stated that after wide research, consultations and considerations, the Ministry had settled for "Endless Hospitality" as the USP on which to anchor the logo of Imo State as a brand identity. 

He invited all Imo indigenes everywhere in the world with a flair for graphics or designing to take advantage of the contest and come up with a suitable tourism brand logo not only to help make Imo the travel destination of choice but also to take part of the credit by writing their name in gold for posterity. 

Prizes set aside for winners include N200,000 for the first prize, N100,000 for the second prize and N50,000 for the third prize. Certificates of participation will also be issued to contestants.The contest opens on June 1, 2022 and closes on June 30, 2022. Entry details are contained in the Tourism Logo  Contest Publication released by the Ministry.