Culture and Tourism

FTAN Leads COPITOUR Revival to Strengthen West Africa’s Private Tourism Partnership

Published

2 months ago

July 29, 2026

Joel Ajayi

The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has recorded a major breakthrough in its efforts to revive the Conseil Patronal Interprofessionnel du Tourisme de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (COPITOUR), the umbrella body for private tourism operators in West Africa, which had remained inactive for several years.

The revival was marked by a one-day consultative meeting hosted by FTAN in Abuja, where stakeholders resolved to reposition COPITOUR as the leading voice of the private tourism sector across the ECOWAS region through stronger collaboration with governments and development partners.

The meeting also attracted renewed commitments from the ECOWAS Commission, the European Union (EU), and GIZ, which urged COPITOUR to strengthen its institutional framework, expand strategic partnerships, and build sustainable structures capable of driving tourism-led economic growth across West Africa.

The commitments were made during the opening session of the Consultative Meeting on the ECOWAS Framework for the Recognition and Accreditation of Regional Business Associations, convened by the Directorate of Private Sector and Industry of the ECOWAS Commission.

The event was supported through the Trade in Services Programme, West Africa, funded by the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ Nigeria and the ECOWAS Commission.

Speaking at the event, FTAN President, Dr. Aliyu Ajayi Badaki, described the gathering as a historic milestone and reaffirmed FTAN’s commitment to working with COPITOUR to make it the foremost regional platform for private sector tourism development.

“I commend the leadership of COPITOUR for its vision and determination to reposition the organisation as the leading voice of the organised private tourism sector in West Africa. FTAN stands ready to work closely with COPITOUR, the ECOWAS Commission, and all member federations to advance our common goals,” he said.

Badaki noted that bringing the private tourism sector together under a single regional platform would unlock new opportunities for collaboration, investment, knowledge sharing, and policy alignment.

“Tourism remains one of the strongest instruments for economic diversification, job creation, cultural exchange, and regional integration, and together we can unlock its enormous potential,” he added.

He also commended the ECOWAS Commission for creating a platform that strengthens collaboration between regional business associations and the Commission, saying it reflects ECOWAS’ commitment to advancing regional integration through private sector participation.

Badaki urged participants to focus on practical outcomes that would strengthen institutions, deepen regional partnerships, and position tourism as a major driver of sustainable development within the ECOWAS community.

COPITOUR President, Mr. Racine Sy, praised the ECOWAS Commission for its continued commitment to regional cooperation and thanked GIZ for supporting the meeting.

“This gathering is a significant milestone for COPITOUR and reflects ECOWAS’ commitment to strengthening regional collaboration and the role of the organised private sector in tourism,” he said.

Racine Sy also commended COPITOUR members for keeping the organisation’s vision alive despite years of inactivity.

“I believe this meeting marks a new dawn for COPITOUR. It provides the opportunity to reposition our organisation to effectively play its role as the leading regional tourism private sector body and a pathfinder for tourism development, policy advocacy, and regional cooperation within ECOWAS,” he stated.

He expressed optimism about stronger partnerships that would help unlock West Africa’s vast tourism potential.

Representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the European Union, and GIZ—including Khillilou Sylla, representing the ECOWAS Commissioner for Business and Agriculture; Desmond E. Umokoro, Programme Manager for Trade and Regional Integration at the EU Delegation to Nigeria; and Kelechi Okoro, Programme Component Manager of the Trade in Services Programme, West Africa, GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS—called on COPITOUR to remain focused on its objectives while building strong institutions capable of delivering sustainable regional development.

They emphasized tourism’s strategic role in economic transformation, noting that a vibrant regional tourism industry would enhance West Africa’s competitiveness, deepen regional integration, and strengthen ties among member states.

The officials further stressed that as the regional voice of the tourism and hospitality private sector, COPITOUR has a critical role to play in mobilising industry stakeholders, promoting policy dialogue, advocating reforms that improve the tourism ecosystem, and supporting the implementation of ECOTOUR initiatives across ECOWAS member states.

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Culture and Tourism

Awakan Marks First Anniversary as NTDA DG, Charts New Course for Tourism Sector

Published

1 week ago

September 24, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

As the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) enters its second year under the leadership of the Director-General, Mr. Ola Awakan, the focus will remain on building partnerships and converting Nigeria’s tourism assets into greater opportunities for investment and accelerated economic growth.

That simple message framed the one year scorecard presented on Wednesday by Mr. Awakan during NTDA Tourism Week 2026 and activities leading to World Tourism Day held in Abuja.

“Nigeria does not lack tourism assets,” Awakan said. “What is required is a system that connects these assets to investments, jobs, technology, enterprise and sustainable economic value.” He added.

Reeling out his scorecard, Awakan observed that over the past year, the Authority concentrated on stakeholder engagement, innovation, investment facilitation, digital transformation, destination marketing, tourism intelligence and institution building.

He explained that efforts have been made towards deeper collaboration with government institutions, traditional institutions, private-sector operators, development partners, financial institutions, professional bodies, communities and international partners.

On the digital front, the NTDA boss said the Authority has advanced NITOUREY, a dedicated tourism streaming platform and content ecosystem meant to take Nigerian destinations, culture and experiences to wider audiences, in alignment with this year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Digital agenda and artificial intelligence to redesign Tourism”.

He also identified Naija Flavour as a flagship project to position Nigerian cuisine as both a tourism asset and a tool for cultural diplomacy, linking tourism to Nollywood, music, fashion, food, festivals and digital creativity.

Speaking further, Awakan reiterated that the NTDA is also digitising tourism enterprise accreditation and regulatory processes while developing a grassroots tourism framework to identify, document and promote assets across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

Internationally, NTDA has expanded ties with tourism institutions, diplomatic missions, development partners and global organisations on technical cooperation, investment, destination marketing, capacity building, cultural diplomacy and market access.

The NTDA helmsman however recognised that challenges remain such as infrastructure gaps, weak tourism data, limited connectivity to some destinations, security concerns in certain locations, regulatory compliance shortfalls and the need for stronger private-sector participation.

Awakan remained positive looking ahead with his priorities including the mobilisation of more tourism investment, accelerating the development of viable assets, expanding domestic and international marketing through deeper digital transformation, strengthening regulation, increasing community participation, building capacity of tourism professionals and deepening partnerships with international tourism institutions.

The DG also announced plans for the expanded Naija Flavour International Tourism Expo to be unveiled in Abuja later this year making it the ultimate platform aimed at drawing international participation, investors and development partners into the sector.

While thanking President Bola Tinubu GCFR for giving him the opportunity to serve, he added that, “One year in office is not the destination. It is a checkpoint,” reiterating that the next phase would require stronger partnerships, greater investment and sustained institutional commitment.

Earlier, the Director of Marketing and Promotion of NTDA Mr. Olufemi Akinyele, said the milestone was being marked as part of NTDA Tourism Week, which began with a road walk and a guided tour of Abuja under the theme “Digital Vibes, Nigerian Pride: Celebrating Tourism, Culture and People.”

Government and industry representatives at the event congratulated the Director General and commended the Authority’s increased engagement with tourism stakeholders.

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