Creative Industry

FCT to hosts 6th National Tourism transportation summit Expo next week

Published

4 years ago

May 2, 2023

…it will aids AfCFTA trade Regime Implementation-ITPN

Joel Ajayi

The stage is set for the hosting of the sixth edition of the National Tourism Transport Summit and Expo, a tourism and transportation industry combined event of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), in collaboration with Ministries of Transportation, Aviation, Information and Culture the in the series of the programs to deepen awareness in critical areas of the industry.In a press statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by National President ITPN/ Chairman Inter-Ministerial Committee, NTTSummit 2023, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, Reveals that event, will comes up on Monday 8th to Tuesday 9th of May, 2023 at the Abuja International Conference Centre – Abuja, with the theme AfCFTA: EXPLORING INTRA AFRICAN TRADE, TOURISM AND TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES AND MITIGATING THE BARRIERS TO COLLABORATION, will focus on the challenges and solutions to the realization of the dream for an all-inclusive trading partnerships for the countries of the African Continent as an entity of a singular market in the implementation of the AfCFTA regime.

Organizers of the Summit said the choice of the theme is to reaffirm the need for collaborative synergy among implementers of the AfCFTA protocols as the cardinal step to overcoming the obstacles and barriers for a successful implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, noting that the Summit will come up with a template for international cooperation and partnership within the African continent that will improve and strengthen the basic conditions necessary for the successful implementation of AfCFTA.

Participants at the two-day event will be drawn from major key players and stakeholders in the transportation and tourism sectors such as the air transportation; i.e. airlines, tour and travel operators, administrators of the aviation industry; the maritime industry which includes sea transport, boats and sea cruising operators; Road Transportation including major transport owners, car hire services, Uber, Road Traffic and Safety Agencies including the FRSC, Motor Insurance Companies; State Transport Ministries and Agencies; Rail Transport Services.

Others are operators of the Tourism and Hospitality industry including tourism resort operators, National Parks Services; museums and monuments, State Tourism Ministries and Boards, Festivals and tourism events managers; Hoteliers, Restaurants and fast food operators; conferences and events managers; as well as service providers in the banking, insurance, oil and gas industries.

Quite a number of interesting and critical sub themes to address challenges in the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocols have been lined up with experts and professional speakers assigned the task of coming up with ways and means of mitigating these challenges, which it is hoped that participants at this year’s event will benefit immensely from the objectives of the Summit and Expo.

The Sub Themes are: Powering AfCFTA Regime Implementation Through Digital and Technological Innovation Strategies; Actualizing Africa’s Open Skies Agreement in Consonance with AfCFTA Regime Implementation; Maintaining Resilient Infrastructures for Sustainable Trade and Transportation, Tourism with AfCFTA Regime; Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and the AfCFTA Agreement; Finance; Banking and Insurance Sectors, Strategic Partners in the Implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and AfCFTA Regime Efficacy: The Role of Gate Keepers in Quality Products and Service Delivery._

Others are: Blue Economy, Panacea to Sustainable Development of Trades and Transportation of AfCFTA; Strategic Architectural Approach in Cross Border Security Management in AfCFTA Regime Implementation; Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potentials: A Sectorial Approach; Enhanced Media Reportage: Partnership for AfCFTA Awareness and Implementation; *Skill Acquisition, Key Element for Labour Mobility in AfCFTA Implementation; Reaping the AfCFTA Potentials through Functional Entrepreneurial and SME Operations and Africa Business Roundtable, Critical Partners in Driving the AfCFTA Implementation_

Lead Speakers expected at the two-day event are; Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NiTDA); Managing Director, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Managing Director, Nigeria Export – Import Bank (NEXIM); Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, (NCS); Executive Vice Chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Others are: Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR); Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, (NTDA), Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON); Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN); President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Collaborating Federal Ministries will have their Ministers give remarks as host ministers with the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika as Host Aviation Minister; Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Host Transportation Minster; Alhaji Muhammad Bello, Host City Minister and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Host Information and Culture Minister.

Also expected to make presentations at the summit are Heads and Chief Executive Officers of Departments and Agencies at both Federal and state levels, as well as Chief Executive Officers of Corporate Organizations, Organized Private Sector, NGOs and Heads of Foreign Missions and Embassies in Nigeria who will deliver goodwill messages

The National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo has since inception in 2018, offered the platform for public and private sector stakeholders, producers and consumers in Nigeria and the African Continent to come together, share ideas, experiences, exchange knowledge and showcase their skills in the growth, development and promotion of the nation’s economic endowments, this time, by promoting the ideals of the AfCFTA Agreements and leveraging on it.

The Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo programme will feature Host City Walk, Tourism Transport Summit, Exhibition-B2B and G2B sessions, Tourism Transport Membership and Fellowship inductions, Launch of the Compendium of all Communiques of the Summit 2018 – 2022 and The Gala Night which will also feature Awards to deserving stakeholders in the industry.

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) will present its roadmap to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion at CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.

Marking its first anniversary on November 5, CAFA will unveil a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, on November 5, 2026.

CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, said the institution works with African governments to align sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property policies, ensuring African creativity generates greater value for African businesses and communities.

Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Honourable Minister Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Minister Musawa said: “Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.”

On employment potential, the minister emphasized that Investment in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth.

Registered in Rwanda, with an office in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards African Union adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming its second participating country and the first in East Africa.

Its first year saw fifty nations gather at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and a signed MoU with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.

CAFA’s programmes promote processing African raw materials into finished apparel locally. ‘Own What We Create’ addresses intellectual property protection, while the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark support standards and authenticity. African Global Fashion Houses are currently being established across international markets.

The African Global Fashion Games will debut in Nigeria in 2028, bringing designers together under national colours. Held every three years, the Games will alternate between African and international hosts, combining competition with investor meetings, deal signings and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event gives competing nations identical materials and a fixed clock, placing skill at the centre of the contest.

CAFA is inviting creatives, fashion designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to its CANEX stand. Visitors can explore the roadmap, ask questions and identify opportunities to contribute through design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships. The stand will be open daily from November 5 to 8.

CAFA calls on the African Union to adopt the Charter, and governments to sign the Games Register and form national teams.

“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” Aare Prof. Lai Labode said.

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