Culture and Tourism
FTAN Leads COPITOUR Revival to Strengthen West Africa’s Private Tourism Partnership
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.
Creative Industry
CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026
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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