Musawa Applauds Tourism Forum, Says Collaboration Key to Diversification

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has commended participants at the National Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders’ Forum, which concluded in Abuja.

The forum, convened by Ola Awakani, Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), brought together government officials, industry leaders and key partners to strengthen collaboration and reposition tourism as a driver of economic diversification, investment and job creation.

Musawa praised the initiative, noting that the forum produced a practical roadmap linking culture, entertainment and tourism to national growth and employment. She emphasised that consistency, strong public-private partnerships and annual follow-up engagements would be critical to achieving lasting impact.

She further stated that under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, tourism is being repositioned as a central pillar of economic diversification and national identity. According to her, integrating previously fragmented sectors into a coordinated system will unlock opportunities and enhance efficiency.

The minister also highlighted plans to continue promoting Nigerian and African culture while connecting private sector players to global market opportunities, noting that the newly introduced travel-market platform would empower stakeholders and expand industry reach.

In his remarks, Awakani thanked stakeholders for their active participation, stressing that tourism development requires collective effort. He reaffirmed NTDA’s commitment to sustaining collaboration and ensuring the forum becomes an annual platform for driving progress in the sector.

Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Nigerian Tourism Together,” the forum focused on building a strong public–private partnership to support the country’s broader diversification agenda.

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