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TOURISM MINISTRY: Odusanwo, thanks Tinubu, congratulates Minister, felicitates with Nigeria Industry Stakeholders

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Joel Ajayi


National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo has expressed his gratitude and thanks to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for heeding to the calls and aspirations of the Nigerian tourism community for the establishment of a stand-alone Tourism Ministry for the country, siting the development as a very key and strategic move by the government to embrace tourism as a key driver of socio-economic growth of the country.

He said the industry never had it this good for a stand-alone tourism not attached with any burden of responsibility except tourism and tourism alone, noting that government has really taken the bull by the horns in becoming the unifying and rallying point for all private sector operators in the sector to look up to for the provision of better policy directives and the provision of necessary infrastructure for Nigeria to be transformed into a compelling, highly competitive and preferred destination.

In a congratulatory letter to the newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Ms. Lola Ade-John, while he felicitates with the Minister on her appointment, Odusanwo urged her to bring her vast and wealth of experience as an IT specialist and astute finance and resource manager to bear in running the ministry so that the country can fully tap and benefit from the enormous socio-economic potentials of the nation’s tourism resources.

He said Nigeria is greatly endowed with huge tourism potentials waiting to be tapped, urging the Minister to see her appointment as a clarion call to grow and develop the country’s tourism resources via the creative application of modern technology which is capable of generating great revenue, creating job opportunities, fighting poverty and revamping the ailing national economy, stating that while the private sector operators are the orchestra in their respective fields of callings, government remains the conductor providing the sense of vision, coordinating competitive marketing intelligence, the executional insights and the ability to bring members of the orchestra together to achieve the desired national goals that the tourism industry stands to offer.

Odusanwo stated that industry players and critical stakeholders in the sector look up to the minister to run the affairs of the ministry with that ‘orchestra-conductor’ relationship with the objective of re-positioning the ministry as a viable government body for purposeful leadership guidance and direction, functional policy formulations, and implementable high-tech solutions that will create the enabling environment for operators of the industry at both public and private sector levels to thrive. 

‘The call for a stand-alone tourism ministry has been on for a very long time now, but coming to the rescue with the creation of the Tourism Ministry by the administration of President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, it is hoped that the Renewed Hope Agenda of his Government will truly breath a renewed hope in the Nigerian tourism industry for better performance in the nation’s socio-economic facet’, he adduced.

He noted further that the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria as the nation’s premier professional awarding body in tourism, hospitality and related trades, will continue to ensure high level of competent professional practices in the industry as well as put in check the wanton and unwholesome infiltration and practices of quacks within the professional folds of the industry.  

He then called on all critical stakeholders and key players in the industry to instill professional competence in their operations and rally round most diligently to support the new Minister in the successful administration of the ministry that will ensure better results and greater outcome for the industry and for the good of the country. 

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

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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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