Nigeria Moves to Globalize Tourism Diplomacy as Foreign Affairs Minister Hosts NTDA Director-General By Raymond Enoch
In a strategic push to internationalize Nigeria’s tourism assets and reposition the country’s cultural heritage as a diplomatic tool, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday received in audience Dr. Ola Adebogun, Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), and his delegation at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The high-level engagement focused on new frameworks, joint initiatives, and a stronger operational synergy between the Ministry and the NTDA aimed at boosting Nigeria’s global tourism visibility. Discussions centred on promoting heritage corridors, enhancing cultural diplomacy, and advancing coordinated national tourism development strategies.
The Honourable Minister emphasized the untapped potential within Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, noting that diplomatic platforms could significantly amplify tourism messaging abroad. He cited opportunities for active participation in flagship international tourism exhibitions, including ITB Berlin, while advocating for a stronger narrative presentation of Nigeria’s history, heritage, and slave-route sites. “Nigeria has a compelling story, and we must tell it ourselves, consistently and globally,” the Minister stated.
Dr. Adebogun outlined NTDA’s emerging flagship initiatives, among them the development of an international tourism city, improved digital storytelling architecture, enhanced diaspora tourism engagement, and strengthened visa facilitation for international tourism events. He also revealed plans to ensure Nigeria’s coordinated presence in competitive tourism markets around the world.
Both parties underscored the urgency of harmonized promotion efforts to attract foreign investment and deepen tourism diversification, stressing the integration of cultural representation within existing missions without expanding attache structures. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to a unified approach in showcasing Nigeria’s tourism potential and cultural capital to international audiences.
The strategic engagement marks a new phase in Nigeria’s tourism diplomacy, signalling a proactive inter-agency partnership designed to position the country more competitively within the global tourism ecosystem.
