Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has applauded stakeholders at the just-concluded National Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders’ Forum, describing collaboration as key to Nigeria’s economic diversification.
The forum, held in Abuja and convened by Dr. Ola Awakani, Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), brought together government officials, industry players, and development partners to chart a new course for the sector.
Musawa commended the initiative, noting that it produced a practical roadmap linking culture, entertainment, and tourism to economic growth and job creation. She stressed that consistency, strong public-private partnerships, and sustained engagement would unlock the sector’s full potential.
“This forum will be an annual staple. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, we are deliberately repositioning tourism as a central pillar of economic diversification and national identity,” she said.
She added that integrating previously fragmented sectors into a unified ecosystem would drive efficiency and position Nigeria as a global cultural and tourism powerhouse.
The minister also highlighted plans to expand opportunities for private-sector players through a new travel-market platform designed to enhance global competitiveness.
Earlier, Dr. Awakani thanked participants for their commitment, noting that “tourism cannot move forward in isolation,” and reaffirmed NTDA’s role in sustaining collaboration across the sector.