The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has confirmed the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, as Chief Hostess for the 8th Nigeria Tourism Investment Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) 2025, scheduled for November 28 in Abuja.
Ambassadors, heads of corporate organisations, and Director Generals of key tourism parastatals will also headline the event.
Top government agency chiefs expected at the Forum include the DG of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Olayiwola Awakan; NIHOTOUR DG, Aare Abisoye Fagade; National Gallery of Arts DG, Ahmed Bashir Sodangi; National Commission for Museums and Monuments DG, Olugbile Holloway; and NITDA DG, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
FTAN also announced respected journalist and public affairs analyst, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Head of Current Affairs at TVC News Lagos, as the Keynote Speaker.
He will speak on the theme, National Tourism Investment and Global Partnership, setting the tone for strategic conversations on repositioning Nigeria’s tourism landscape.
The panel session will feature industry leaders including Lolo Ngozi Ngoka of Zigona Travel Advisory; Dr Tony Elumelu, former ECOWAS Director for Private Sector; Dr Victor Dare of Better Ways Group; Prince Philip Orebiyi of Kogi State Hotel Board; and Victor Kayode, President of the Nigeria Hotel and Catering Institute (NHCI).
FTAN says the panelists’ insights will help drive investment, collaboration and sector-wide growth.
NTIFE 2025 will be preceded by an Investiture and Award Night, with the list of Tourism Icons and awardees to be unveiled soon.
The one-day Forum aims to bring together investors, policymakers, state governments, foreign envoys and international partners to chart new pathways for tourism development and economic diversification.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike