Dr. Aliyu Badaki, President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), has called on the Federal Government to adopt tourism as a core pillar of national development, saying Nigeria is primed for a tourism-driven economic future.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) in Abuja, he said the country must position tourism as a strategic contributor to national growth.
Badaki highlighted FTAN’s full participation in the final review of the National Tourism Policy as one of the association’s major achievements, describing it as a landmark moment for the private sector.
He noted that the new policy reflects shared national priorities and global best practices, with FTAN’s inputs fully integrated for the first time.
He also announced the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding between FTAN, the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), and the National Gallery of Art.
According to him, the agreement marks a new era of structured collaboration that embeds FTAN directly into national tourism planning and implementation.
Outlining his Tourism Transformation Mandate, Badaki said FTAN is focused on expanding partnerships, strengthening its internal framework, and driving market development and national image promotion.
He added that courtesy visits to key agencies and diplomatic engagements with embassies have opened channels for investment promotion, cultural exchange, and global partnerships.
Badaki maintained that with an updated tourism policy, enhanced public-private collaboration, and rising global interest, Nigeria is ready for unprecedented tourism investment.
He urged stakeholders to attract investors, strengthen national marketing, improve tourism infrastructure, and work together to unlock Nigeria’s vast tourism potential and secure long-term sectoral growth.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike