News
Nigeria Deepens Tourism Ties with China as NTDA DG Meets China Tourism Academy President in Beijing
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria’s tourism development, promotion and destination marketing efforts are set for a new phase of strategic cooperation with China following a high-level meeting between the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Ola Awakan, and the President of the China Tourism Academy (Data Centre of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism), Dai Bin, in Beijing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria-China tourism relations, with particular emphasis on developing the Chinese tourism market for Nigeria, leveraging tourism intelligence and traveller trends, and positioning Nigerian destinations to attract a greater share of China’s outbound tourism market.
Speaking during the meeting, Awakan highlighted the need for a structured China-Nigeria Tourism Market Development Programme, which would enable Nigeria to better understand Chinese outbound tourism patterns and develop tourism products and destination-marketing strategies tailored to the Chinese market.
He also called for enhanced technical and capacity-building cooperation in destination development, tourism data and research, standards, and institutional capacity development for the NTDA and state tourism agencies. According to him, greater collaboration should also facilitate investment and business exchanges by creating pathways for Chinese tourism investors, operators and hospitality businesses to access investment-ready tourism opportunities in Nigeria. Awakan reiterates the interest of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu in diversifying the country’s economy through tourism.
In his response, the President of the China Tourism Academy commended Awakan for what he described as transformative initiatives within Nigeria’s tourism ecosystem. Dai Bin noted that Nigeria is endowed with abundant cultural and historical tourism resources and expressed the Academy’s commitment to building a strategic partnership with the NTDA to support the realisation of its mandate.
Dai Bin stressed the importance of improving Nigeria’s image and visibility among Chinese travellers and tourism operators, noting that a better understanding of Nigeria would help strengthen tourism exchanges between both countries.
“Nigeria’s image needs to be promoted in the minds of the Chinese people for our operators and tourists to understand your country better. We need to create more exchange programmes in education, training and businesses,” he said.
The China Tourism Academy also expressed its readiness to work with the NTDA towards facilitating the establishment of a Nigerian International Tourism Promotion Centre in China. The proposed centre is expected to strengthen the strategic partnership, promote Nigerian destinations and tourism products, and deepen market understanding between Nigeria and China for both inbound and outbound tourism.
The meeting was attended by the Director of the Department of International Exchange and Finance at the China Tourism Academy, Dr. Yang Jinsong, alongside other senior management officials of the Academy.
The engagement formed part of Awakan’s working visit to China, during which he is gaining insights into China’s tourism and development strategies. The visit also includes his participation in a seminar on Climate Action and the Sustainable Development Goals for Developing Countries, facilitated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
The engagement underscores Nigeria’s growing efforts to expand international tourism partnerships, attract tourism investment, strengthen destination marketing and position the country more strategically within the global tourism marketplace.
News
DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development
Cyril Samania
The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.
Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.
He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.
According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.
He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.
Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.
He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.
Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.
He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.
Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.
He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.
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