Nigeria tourism officials push stronger partnerships, sustainability at NATOP AGM

At the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) in Lagos, several government officials and industry leaders called for deeper collaboration and professionalisation to unlock Nigeria’s tourism potential.

Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Hon. Oluwasesan (Sesan) Abolaji Fagbayi urged stakeholders across the value chain to work together, citing tourism’s capacity to drive economic growth, job creation and cultural preservation. He highlighted Ogun State’s investments in heritage sites, festivals and hospitality infrastructure, and called for the use of digital technology, destination branding and skills development.

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Mrs. Toke Benson‑Awoyinka stressed that the sector’s vast cultural, wildlife and beach assets must be deliberately developed, professionally packaged and effectively marketed. She pointed to Lagos’s more than 200 annual festivals and projects such as the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and the Oluremi Tinubu Industrial Leather Hub, and urged improved certification, innovation, finance and public‑private partnerships.

Board of Trustees chair Nkereuwem Onung highlighted the need for responsible tourism, describing tour operators as the backbone of the industry and ambassadors of the nation. He promoted the upcoming Arise Palm Resort in Akwa Ibom – a 70‑hectare luxury complex slated for commissioning in September – as a new destination for operators.

Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo Babalola, acting president of the Nigerian Hotel and Catering Institute, added that tourism contributes significantly to national development, called for closing the hospitality knowledge gap and stressed the importance of sustainable practices, incentives and affordable financing for hotel growth.