Sanwo-Olu Pushes Community-Based Tourism Opportunities
Kehinde Adeleye
The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has called for greater attention to community-based tourism, saying local communities across Nigeria can benefit from stronger connections among tourism businesses, cultural attractions and visitors.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Monday at the ongoing 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, where she described the annual event as an important platform for connecting businesses in the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors.
She said Nigeria had a lot to offer in tourism and should do more to connect its different cities and communities to visitors looking for cultural, recreational and hospitality experiences.
“There’s a lot to offer. I think we are the gateway into the black global community. Having a travel market is very key because it connects. It connects different businesses within the tourism sector,” she said.
According to her, stronger cooperation among tourism stakeholders across West Africa and the wider African continent would help create more opportunities and expose more communities to the global tourism market.
She also encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of existing networks and platforms that can help visitors discover what different Nigerian cities have to offer.
Sanwo-Olu specifically highlighted the My City App as a platform through which people can access information about tourism opportunities across Nigeria and Africa.
“People can key in to that and know what is available in Nigeria, all over Africa, but specifically in the different cities in Nigeria,” she said.
The community and youth development aspect of tourism was also highlighted at the event, as Sanwo-Olu joined 15 chefs in tasting Jollof rice, including 3 young chefs trained under the Lagos Boy Child Initiative.
The 3 young chefs had emerged winners of the Lagos Boy Child Initiative Cooking Competition and were given the opportunity to compete in the Jollof Rice War as part of the Akwaaba event.
Their participation, alongside the wider activities at the travel market, highlighted how tourism and hospitality can provide platforms for young people and local talents to develop their skills and connect with wider opportunities.
Sanwo-Olu also called for greater collaboration among tourism businesses, saying stronger connections would help advance Nigeria’s tourism development and deepen relationships across the continent.
The event was attended by representatives of the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of The Gambia, Abdoulie Jobe, was also among the dignitaries at the event.
