The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) have reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership aimed at promoting Nigeria’s tourism assets, strengthening the country’s global image, attracting investment and deepening diaspora engagement.
According to an official signed statement by Violet Nwosu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NiDCOM, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated this during a strategic meeting with the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed appreciation for the courtesy visit and stressed the need to rebrand Nigeria’s tourism assets across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to encourage domestic tourism and enhance the country’s appeal to international visitors.
She highlighted the significance of the Badagry Door of Return Festival, describing it as a powerful platform that reconnects Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
“It is a spiritual, emotional, psychological, economic and historical experience. It cuts deep into their psyche as many shed tears as they pass through the slave routes,” she said.
The NiDCOM Chairman urged the NTDA to sustain strategic partnerships that would enable Nigerians to take ownership of their national narrative by telling their own stories and projecting a positive image of the country to the global community.
Speaking during the meeting, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, said Nigeria is endowed with abundant tourism assets and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to repositioning them to meet global standards.
He identified key priorities to include improving tour guide systems, upgrading tourism sites, organising tourism expos, promoting private sector participation and developing attractive tour packages and tourism bureaux.
Dr. Awakan noted that stronger engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora and tourism stakeholders would stimulate investment, create employment opportunities and contribute to social cohesion across the country.
He observed that despite Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and numerous entertainment and tourism events, the country’s international reputation is often undermined by negative narratives, underscoring the need for more deliberate efforts to project a positive national image.
The NTDA Director General disclosed plans to introduce Naija Fest, a proposed national festival designed to showcase the culture, cuisine, music, arts and traditions of all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He also announced a proposed Diaspora Internship Initiative in the United Kingdom, which will provide Nigerians in the diaspora with opportunities to undertake a nine-month professional internship in Nigeria before returning to their countries of residence with enhanced professional and cultural experience.
Both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging tourism and diaspora engagement as strategic tools for national development, investment promotion and improving Nigeria’s international image.
