An art collector, Julius Iyoghiojie, has urged Nigerian artistes to tell beautiful stories about the nation’s endowments to attract international tourists for economic benefits.

Mr Iyoghiojie, an art collector of more than 27 years, urged Nigerians to consciously jettison insecurity problems.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Mr Iyoghiojie cited natural lakes, warm and cold springs, waterfalls, art galleries, deserts, wildlife, coastal areas and other cultural sites as things that Nigerians should showcase to the world.

“Nigerian stories are the most beautiful and interesting, let us tell them to the world.

“The Nigerian market is bigger than any country in Europe.

“We have the buying power, we should believe in what we have and market it to the world, while we downplay the insecurity problem,” he said.

According to him, it has become obvious that Nigeria with over 200 million citizens needs a market to grow tourism, adding that the nation has the buying power.

The art connoisseur urged the federal government to establish some artificial tourism sites like in the developed countries of the world.

(NAN)