Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government has commended organizers of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo for pro viding the platform where the pivotal needs of the country’s public and private sectors in collaboration, coordination and connectivity to unlock the full potentials in tourism, transportation and creative economy are being discussed, explored and actionable propositions made.

The commendation was made by Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy in a Keynote address she sent to declare open, the 8th edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo which began in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Tuesday, 2nd December, 2025. 

Barr. Musawa stated the commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in infrastructure development and intermodal transportation systems so as to enhance accessibility to the nation’s tourism potentials across all regions of the country; evolving policies that integrate all developmental parametres that guarantee intensive economic growth of the nation’s and help to strengthen the linkages amongst key sectors to facilitate tourism business operations at all levels.

Her keynote address, which was read by Mr. Sunday Bisong, Director Overseeing Domestic Tourism Promotion of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, further asserts the timeliness of the theme of the Summit: Tourism Transportation Connectivity: Accelerating the Synergy for National Socio-Economic Growth and Development, noting that it  brings together the two most strategic sectors; Tourism and Transportation, for Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts from oil to non-oil sector to boost the national economy.

She noted that because of the multi-faceted and spillover effects of the tourism industry, the Ministry is creating pathways for prosperity of small businesses and artisans across all business operations in the tourism value chain for inclusive socio-economic growth to further drive employment, stimulate investment and open up new frontiers for trade and innovations.

Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the Inter-ministerial Organizing Committee of the 8th National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo and President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, stressed that the annual hosting of the Summit and Expo aims at strengthening the synergy between tourism and transportation as well as explore the interdependency among MDAs and private sector organization to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development of the Nigerian economy.

Odusanwo further noted that the NTTSummit has come a long way, with communiques from the Summits serving as guides and roadmap for national policies on tourism and transportation, observing that organizers remain appreciative and honoured by both private and public sector participants, exhibitors, guests, speakers and collaborators for their trust, confidence and continued participation in the Summit since inception in 2018, which has greatly encouraged the annual hosting of the Summit for the economic good of the country via inclusive cooperation, collaboration and partnerships.

Government Agencies and private sector organizations delivered Goodwill messages in which they extolled the virtues of the Summit and exposition in bringing together, experts, professionals, key players and critical stakeholders to put their heads together and chart some viable and implementable pathways for the functional and sustainable growth and development of the national economy.

Among government agencies and private sector organizations that delivered goodwill messages are: The Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR); Conservator General of the National Parks Service; The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission; Director General of the Standard Organization of Nigeria; President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria; President of Chartered Institute for Transport Administrators, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council and aero among others.

Participants at the two-day event are 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, oil and gas industries.
States across the federation are not left out at the Summit and Expo as there are delegates and exhibitors from Lagos, Benue, Abia, Bauchi, Kogi, Osun, Kaduna, Kwara and Niger among the rest.
During the first leg of the Technical session, seven well researched papers were presented by experts in both tourism and transportation industry as Sub Themes on the major Themes of: Standard and Policies: Panacea to Sustainable Tourism and Transportation Development, Driving Economic Growth through Private Sector Participation and Destination Development Projects and Human Capital Development and Capacity Building in the Tourism and Transportation Sectors.     
The First Day’s Session ended with the induction of new Fellows/Members of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN). As well as the inauguration of Zonal Heads and Coordinators of the Institute across the country. In all, a combination 34 Fellows and Members were inducted and 6 Zonal Coordinators were inaugurated by the National President of the Institute, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, assisted by the duo of National Vice President of ITPN Northern Zone, Alhaji Abdulhamid M Shariff the National Vice President of ITPN, Southern Zone, Otunba Ayodele Olumuko.
The Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo programme has over the years featured Tourism Transport Summit, Exhibition, B2B and G2B sessions, Tourism Transport Membership and Fellowship inductions, and the Gala Night which features Awards to deserving stakeholders in the industry.
The Summit and Exposition continues tomorrow, Wednesday, 3rd December, 2025 with the presentation of more papers, City Tour of tourist attractions in the FCT and an Award and Gala Nite.                                               

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