The Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Mr. Olayiwola Awakan GrPr, led his team on a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR, to strengthen alignment between tourism, trade, and investment.
The DG highlighted NTDA’s strategic priorities, including the NITOUREY tourism streaming platform, the upcoming Naija Flavour International Tourism Expo (NAFITO) in conjunction with the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) 2027, as well as ongoing efforts to standardize and brand the tour guiding system in Nigeria.
He emphasized that Nigeria is a melting pot of stories, with immense potential to drive economic growth through tourism, community-based initiatives in collaboration with traditional institutions.
The DG also reiterated the Authority’s commitment towards achieving the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by positioning tourism as a key driver of economic diversification and revenue generation.
Discussions explored opportunities for collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the integration of NTDA into the Ministry’s broader national strategies for tourism marketing and promotion.
In her response, the Honourable Minister affirmed the strong link between trade and tourism, highlighting opportunities across fashion, textiles, and culture. She also expressed interest in working with NTDA on upcoming platforms such as the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027 to boost Nigeria’s creative and tourism economy.
