Nigeria is intensifying efforts to leverage tourism as a driver of economic growth and diaspora engagement, with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) sealing a strategic partnership to promote the country’s tourism assets, attract investment, and reshape its global image.
The partnership was unveiled during a high-level meeting in Abuja between NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and NTDA Director-General, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan.
Dabiri-Erewa said the collaboration reflects NiDCOM’s commitment to initiatives that support national development, stressing that showcasing Nigeria’s rich tourism potential is vital to improving the country’s international reputation and encouraging investment from Nigerians in the diaspora.
She called for renewed efforts to reposition tourism attractions across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while urging Nigerians to embrace and promote domestic tourism. She identified the Badagry Door of Return Festival as one of the country’s most significant cultural events, noting that it reconnects Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral roots.
According to her, the festival offers a profound “spiritual, emotional, psychological, economic and historical experience,” with many participants overwhelmed by emotion as they retrace the historic slave routes.
Dabiri-Erewa also urged stakeholders in the tourism industry to strengthen partnerships and encouraged Nigerians to project positive narratives about the country to the global community.
Speaking during the meeting, NTDA Director-General, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, said Nigeria possesses enormous tourism potential and revealed plans to upgrade and rebrand tourism destinations to meet international standards.
He said the Authority is focusing on improving tour guide services, enhancing tourism sites, organising tourism expos, promoting private sector participation, and developing structured tour packages to boost visitor experiences.
Awakan noted that deeper engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora and international tourism enthusiasts would attract investment, create employment opportunities, and contribute to national development.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s image has often been shaped by negative perceptions despite its rich cultural heritage, he stressed the need for a coordinated campaign to promote a more positive global narrative through Nigerians in the diaspora, whom he described as the country’s “first-line ambassadors.”
As part of the new strategy, Awakan announced plans to launch Naija Fest, a national cultural festival that will celebrate Nigeria’s diverse cultures, cuisine, music, arts, and traditions across the 36 states and the FCT.
He also disclosed a proposed Diaspora Internship Initiative in the United Kingdom, which will enable Nigerians living abroad to participate in a nine-month internship programme in Nigeria, offering them both professional experience and a stronger cultural connection.
Both NiDCOM and NTDA reaffirmed their commitment to using tourism and diaspora engagement as strategic tools to drive economic growth, strengthen national development, and improve Nigeria’s image on the global stage.
