The Stakeholders have called for stronger State and Federal collaboration, deeper private-sector participation and enhanced cultural diplomacy to place tourism as a frontier for Nigeria’s economy growth.
The call was made at the just concluded Destination Nigeria Governors’ Tourism Conference and Awards in Abuja, DNGTC 2025, a two- day programme, attracts Governors, Security Chiefs, Corporate leaders, cultural practitioners and top policymakers.
This year’s theme: Harnessing Tourism: A strategic Pathway for the Nigerian Governors to foster Economic Growth and Employment” aimed to reposition Nigeria as a destination for tourism in Africa and to the rest of the world.
In her remarks, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, ably represented by her Chief of Staff, Raphael Obi described tourism as a powerful engine for job creation, global competitiveness and national rebranding.
She urged State Governments to invest more aggressively in tourism destination marketing, cultural infrastructure and creative-industry partnerships that align with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader economic diversification agenda.
The Minister emphasized the importance of cities across Nigeria as critical hubs offering unique attractions to stimulate global enterprise and increase internally generated revenue.
According to her“The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) is working closely with state governments, private investors, and development partners to improve infrastructure, enhance capacity building, and actively market Nigeria as a premier destination for both domestic and international tourists”.
Musawa called for strong political will, sustained investment, and multi-sector partnerships to translate the pending national tourism policy into real outcomes.
She said, “The policy, now in its final approval stages, is seen by stakeholders as a crucial step for unlocking the sector’s full potential”.
The Minister pointed to ongoing projects aimed at revitalizing key tourism sites, such as the Obudu Mountain Resort, alongside private-sector infrastructure developments like new airports to improve accessibility and security for visitors.
She stressed Nigeria’s commitment to creating seamless travel experiences that allow tourists to visit with ease and confidence. “Visitors should be able to fly directly from anywhere in the world, enjoy their stay, and return without logistical hassles,” she said.
The Minister added “Private sector participation remains vital to expanding Nigeria’s diverse tourism offerings. The govt also called on all stakeholders from policymakers to local communities—to collaborate and contribute expertise and resources”.
Highlighting Nigeria’s tourism innovation, Musawa announced plans for “Longest Dining Table” event in December at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, expected to host over 2,000 guests, adding that this initiative signals Nigeria’s dedication to raising its global tourism profile.
She concluded by praising leadership in the Federal Capital Territory and other states for their excellence in culture, tourism, and the creative industries.
The Minister called on all sectors to unite in promoting Nigeria as a symbol of hope and opportunity. “This is the moment for Nigeria’s tourism sector to overcome negativity and emerge as a beacon of hope and opportunity,” urging collective efforts to advance the country’s tourism vision.
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike who was honoured with Mr Tourism Infrastructure Award in recognition of his contributions which enhances the FCT’s appeal to visitors, hailed the organisers for maintaining a platform that elevate tourism in national discourse.
In his opening address, the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Ola Awakan emphasized tourism’s global significance, saying forward-thinking nations are leveraging tourism as a vital instrument for economic renewal, job creation, and social cohesion.
He added that tourism has proven to be one of the fastest growing sectors globally, contributing over 10 percent to GDP and accounting for millions of livelihoods.
According to him, “For Nigeria, with our extraordinary cultural diversity, natural landscapes, and creative dynamism, the potential of tourism is not only events but transformational. Today, we explore how sub-national leadership can drive tourism -led development inclusively, sustainably, and profitably.”
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, ably represented by a senior officer stressed the Immigration Service’s critical role in facilitating seamless travel and improving the country’s global image as a visitor-friendly destination.
She said the NIS is committed to modernising border processes, strengthening visa facilitation and deepening inter-agency collaboration to ensure that tourism inflows are safe, orderly and efficiently managed. Nandap, in her goodwill messages noted that a vibrant tourism industry must rest on effective mobility systems that welcome investors, tourists and cultural enthusiasts from around the world.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by ACP Lamido Alkali, assured stakeholders of enhanced security support across tourism corridors, saying no destination flourishes without safety.
Representing the private sector, the Head, Business Enterprise, MTN Nigeria, Michael Olaniyi, reaffirmed the MTN’s commitment to strengthen the digital infrastructure, technological ecosystem that enable modern tourism, hospitality innovation and creative-economy expansion.The convener, Ayo Omotosho while unveiling two more products, the Tourism Map of Africa and the Political Tourism Conference expressed satisfaction with the depth of discourse and quality of participation.
He noted that the DNGTC 2025 edition has further reinforced the conference’s reputation as a key driver of national tourism advocacy, investment mobilisation and cultural diplomacy.
The event also featured was a robust business sessions where experts, investors and govt representatives discussed tourism financing, destination competitiveness, infrastructure renewal, security, digital tourism, content creation and the role of technology in shaping visitor experiences.
Adding vibrancy to the evening, the National Troupe of Nigeria delivered a captivating cultural performance that celebrated the country’s artistic diversity and drew enthusiastic applause from participants.
