Author: Jimoh Babatunde

… collaboration with HATMAN

The President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Dr Aliyu Ajayi Badaki, has charged the Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr Abisoye Fagade, to focus more on training and capacity building in the sector, noting that these are core areas that would ultimately lead to standardisation, professionalism and attraction of more investors and operators into the sector.

This is as he also called on him to revisit the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between NIHOTOUR and the Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), stressing that the MoU, which was signed over 15 years ago and left in the cooler by subsequent administrators of the Institute, is meant to entrench training and capacity building in hospitality and tourism through partnership with HATMAN and NIHOTOUR.

Badaki gave these charges when he spoke as special guest during the one-day Annual Master Lecture Series of NIHOTOUR, which was held recently at Abuja. He commended the DG for sustaining the annual lecture series tradition, noting that it will further give traction to the Institute as a training and capacity building institute.

The choice of the theme: Advancing knowledge strengthening, capacity, and deepening professional standards within Nigeria Tourism and Hospitality Ecosystem, he said was seminal and timely, stressing that it captures the essence and mandate of the Institute.

To this, he charged the DG to focus more on this trajectory, working with relevant bodies and individuals in the hospitality and tourism ecosystem. He pledged the commitment of FTAN in working closely with the Institute’s leadership to achieve this onerous and desirous endgame by all the operators.

According to him, if NIHOTOUR properly harness the theme of the lecture series in line with its core mandate, that it will positively impact on the industry’s standards and ultimately leads to guest’s satisfaction and Return on Investment (RoI) to the investors.

He called on the DG to revamp the MoU signed by the Institute and HATMAN on joint training and capacity building, noting that if implemented it will further boost confidence in the sector and enhance the needed capacity and standards that everyone is clamouring for.

Badaki advised the Institute to organise more of the yearly lecture series to cover the six geo-graphical zones of the country.

On his part, Fagade expressed appreciation to Badaki for attending the event, and his charges. He noted that they are welcomed, promising that the Institute will take action on them. He then mandated his team on the spot to commence immediate planning to host the lecture series across the six zones of the country as advised by Badaki.

He reiterated the commitment of NIHOTOUR to its core mandate of training and capacity building, while stressing that standardisation of the industry in the areas of capacity building, and statistical data, among others, would be squarely addressed as well.

Fagade also paid tribute to the team led by Dr Edwin Enenta for organising the programme within such a short period of time.

… holds investiture of Badaki

It was a night of glitz, celebration, honour and rewards for excellent service to the nation and immense contributions to tourism as the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) bestowed its prestigious awards of Tourism Icon on selected individuals and organisations in recognition of their invaluable commitment to pushing the frontiers of Nigerian tourism.

Leading the pack of awardees were the Governor of Katsina State, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda and the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa. The occasion was the Gala and Tourism Icon Award Nite, and Investiture of the National President of FTAN, Dr Aliyu Badaki, during the eighth edition of the Nigeria Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) 2025, held in Abuja.
Governor Radda of Katsina State was honoured under the category of Tourism Icon as the Best Tourism Governor for the year 2025. He was represented at the event by the Director General of the Katsina State History and Culture Bureau, Dr Kabir Ali Masanawa.
while Musawa was also bestowed with the Tourism Icon Award for her contributions to tourism and doggedness in staying the course in the face of obvious challenges.
She was represented by the Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Olayiwola Awakan.
Others on the honour roll included; Eko Hotel and Suites – Pioneer in Hospitality Innovation; Lolo Ngozi Ngoka- Award of Excellence for Tourism Policy Drive; Mr Edosa Eghobamien – Hospitality Innovation Award; TVC News – Tourism Promotion Award; and Mohammed Jammal – Excellence in Recreation and Leisure Award.

Edosa Eghobamien is a visionary entrepreneur, strategic business leader, and catalyst for innovation across Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, energy, and development sectors. He is the Managing Director of Efedosa Catering Services, TedMayfair Development and Infrastructure Company, Amena Academy, Changing Ideas, and Amena Tourism and Hospitality Innovative Technology Solutions Limited; Mohammed Jammal -Founder and Owner of Monoliza Sports and Recreational Centre, is a noted tourism and recreation innovator, devoted to curating tourism, leisure, and family entertainment destinations;

Ngozi Ngoka, Managing Consultant – Zigona Advisory, leverages her extensive expertise in travel and tourism management and economic development to provide strategic sectoral insights and solutions for clients in the travel and tourism sectors and also as the thematic lead for the Travel and Tourism Industries Thematic Group of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

As part of the night’s loaded activities, the President of FTAN, Dr Aliyu Badaki, who was elected during the elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Federation in Abuja, on July 30, 2025, investiture ceremony was conducted. The investiture was performed by Senator Smart Adeyemi, who in his remark, congratulated Badaki and charged him to deliver on his mandate to the Federation.

It will be the first time that the Federation in about three decades of its existence, would be conducting an investiture ceremony for its elected President.

The President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) Dr Aliyu Badaki has called on the Nigerian government to embrace tourism as a central pillar of national development.
Badaki stated that the Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) 2025 represents far more than an annual event; but symbolises Nigeria’s readiness to embrace a bold new future.
Speaking at the 2025 NTIFE, with the theme: National Tourism Investment and Global Partnership, held recently in Abuja, Badaki noted that the new future is where tourism becomes a significant contributor to economic growth.

He disclosed that one of FTAN’s most significant contributions this year was full participation in the final review of the National Tourism Policy, an exercise coordinated by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group under the guidance of the Ministry.

Badaki pointed out that participating in the tourism policy was a landmark moment for the private sector, as FTAN’s voice was not only heard but deeply integrated into the policy.

He added that the final document reflects shared priorities, private-sector realities, and global best practices, stressing that it is a policy Nigerians can proudly present to the world.

FTAN President emphasised that: “Another major milestone we achieved was the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding between FTAN, the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, and the National Gallery of Art. This MoU marks a new era of structured collaboration. It acknowledges the private sector as a major engine of tourism development and creates formal pathways for joint programming, marketing, destination development, cultural tourism integration, standards improvement, and investor support.
“For the first time, FTAN is not participating from the sidelines; we are now embedded in the architecture of national tourism planning and implementation.”

Badaki explained his Tourism Transformation Mandate, which distilled his aspirations into three major areas, which include the need to grow tourism through strong partnerships and meaningful policy influence, the transformation and unification of FTAN’s institutional framework; and the expansion of market development, national image amplification, and legacy-building initiatives.

He noted that the Tourism Transformation Mandate is no longer an idea on paper; but an active, living blueprint guiding its actions and shaping its results.

In his words: “Every step we have taken since our inauguration has been intentional. Immediately after the elections, we convened a strategic executive retreat. That retreat was our starting point, a space where we aligned our priorities, agreed on implementation pathways, and unified our collective understanding of FTAN’s role in Nigeria’s tourism journey. ”
Badaki noted that the clarity and cohesion that emerged from that retreat set the pace for the progress they are now celebrating.

He said FTAN has embarked on a series of courtesy visits to key government agencies, including the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Arts, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), and the National Gallery of Art (NGA).

Badaki further observed that these engagements strengthened institutional trust, reinforced public-private alignment, and ensured that FTAN is firmly recognised as a reliable partner in national tourism development.
Badaki stated that FTAN will be taking it a nudge higher by signing strategic MoUs with them.
FTAN President lauded the Minister’s unwavering partnership, visionary support, and exemplary leadership which have been instrumental in strengthening its efforts, qualities that deserve not only its admiration but their collective emulation.

Badaki explained that: “Understanding that international collaboration is essential to any competitive tourism economy, we expanded our diplomatic engagements by visiting embassies and high commissions across various regions. These meetings were strategic, and they opened channels for cultural exchange, tourism promotion partnerships, investment interest, and bilateral cooperation.
Nigeria’s tourism potential is vast, and our discussions with foreign missions confirmed that the world is paying attention”.
Badaki noted that with the new tourism policy in place, stronger public-private collaboration, an energised creative industry, improved visibility for Nigerian culture, and a large domestic market, Nigeria is primed for unprecedented tourism investment.
He informed investors that Nigeria offers limitless opportunities in hospitality, ecotourism, entertainment, and creative festivals, MICE tourism, community tourism, travel technology, transportation, culinary tourism, cultural infrastructure, and much more.
Badaki noted that the FTAN family welcomes increased incentives for tourism investors, improved safety and infrastructure around tourism sites, enhanced national marketing, and the activation of structures such as the Presidential Council on Tourism.

He maintained that with deeper collaboration, Nigeria can unlock billions in untapped tourism value.
According to him, “Nigeria has everything it needs to become a leading tourism destination in Africa: diversity, creativity, cultural richness, natural beauty, and the warmth of our people. What remains is sustained collaboration, bold investment, and long-term commitment.”
He urged stakeholders to build partnerships that endure, attract investors who see Nigeria not as a risk, but as a rising opportunity and to leave behind a legacy of growth, unity, and transformation.

Nigeria’s newest aviation landmark, the Akwa Ibom International Airport in Uyo, has been hailed as a significant catalyst for the country’s tourism advancement.

The airport—recently designated an international facility by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo—is located adjacent to the state’s domestic terminal and features cutting-edge aviation and travel technology, five-star lounges, recreational amenities, and modern shopping arcades. It is the first of its kind in the South-South economic region.

President of Experience IBOM and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the National Association of Nigeria Tour Operators (NATOP), Mr. Nkereweum Onung, described the airport as a major enabler of Nigeria’s cultural tourism growth. He commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his strategic influence in positioning the state as a major tourism destination.

Onung, who is also the immediate past President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), noted that the airport would attract travellers from across the world, expanding cultural tourism opportunities within the South-South region, creating jobs, and stimulating socio-economic and tourism-related trade.

“Pastor Umo Eno has shown that he is a professional, a cultural tourism ambassador, and a strategic reformer. His infrastructure initiatives will not only enhance tourism and hospitality in Akwa Ibom State but also serve as sustainable drivers of economic growth and improved security. At Experience IBOM, we are proud and eager to partner with the state’s airport management authority to ensure these facilities are effectively utilized and protected,” Onung said.

He revealed that Experience IBOM, a tourism promotion company, will soon roll out marketing campaigns with local and international partners to promote Akwa Ibom— and by extension Nigeria—on the global tourism stage. According to him, infrastructure investments such as the Akwa Ibom International Airport intentionally open populous nations like Nigeria to expanded travel, commerce, and tourism opportunities, thereby boosting local community development.

Onung also commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for his leadership and for elevating Nigeria’s presence within the global aviation community.