Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has commended the National Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders’ Forum, which concluded in Abuja on Wednesday, for fostering collaboration and strategic alignment across Nigeria’s tourism and creative sectors.

The forum, convened by Dr. Ola Awakani, Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), brought together government officials, industry leaders, associations, and partners to chart actionable steps aimed at transforming tourism into a driver of investment, job creation, and cultural promotion.

Musawa praised Dr. Awakani’s leadership in producing a practical roadmap linking culture, entertainment, and tourism to economic growth. She emphasized that consistency, public-private partnerships, and annual follow-up are critical to converting Nigeria’s creative assets into measurable development gains.

“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. Bringing previously fragmented sectors into one coordinated ecosystem unlocks synergies, drives efficiency, and positions Nigeria as a global cultural and tourism powerhouse,” Musawa said.

The minister added that the ministry will continue to showcase Nigerian and African culture while connecting private-sector players to market opportunities. “The new travel-market platform gives stakeholders ownership and a framework to expand globally,” she noted.

Dr. Awakani, thanking operators for embracing the forum’s “out-of-the-ordinary” energy, stressed that tourism cannot progress in isolation. He reaffirmed NTDA’s commitment as a convener and highlighted the importance of partnerships between government, hoteliers, creatives, and tour promoters to co-create a roadmap that links culture and entertainment to employment, sustained by consistency and annual engagement.

Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Nigerian Tourism Together,” the forum aimed to forge a public-private alliance in line with the President’s diversification agenda. Key attendees included Dr. Kabir Ali Masanawa, Executive Director of the Katsina State History and Culture Bureau; Hajiya Aisha Lawan Saji Rano, Kano State Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy; Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare, Nigeria’s first Professor of Dance, Choreography and Performing Aesthetics; and NTDA directors and staff.

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