Lagos will in December play host to a landmark cultural and tourism exhibition designed to reposition Nigeria’s underdeveloped tourism sector and attract both local and international attention.
The three-day event, organised by Migbaci Expo, is expected to bring together more than 15,000 stakeholders and engage hundreds of thousands more through social media platforms.
Akinwale Alabi, Chief Executive Officer of Migbaci Expo, stressed the urgent need for deliberate government support and private investment to unlock the country’s vast tourism potential. “Tourism is the way forward. That is the core reason we are hosting this event—to show Nigerians what we have and what we are failing to harness,” he said.
The exhibition will feature training sessions, investment forums, agenda-setting discussions, and interstate collaborations, with states encouraged to showcase their unique cultural landmarks and tourism attractions.
Attendees will also benefit from incentives, including free tourism trips, while several strategic partnerships are being lined up to boost the event’s reach and impact.
Alabi decried the neglect of Nigeria’s cultural festivals and heritage sites, likening the country to “a gold mine” of untapped assets. “There is a year-round calendar of tourism events in Nigeria that neither government nor the private sector is leveraging. What some nations depend on for survival isn’t even half of what Nigeria has in tourism potential,” he added.
The exhibition will also have an international dimension, with the Irish Commissioner and other foreign delegates expected to attend.
A collaboration with Dublin’s Idea Hub is in the works to further enhance the programme.
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Tourism consultant Ayo Olesin highlighted how other nations have successfully commercialised their cultural assets, citing Germany’s beer culture and South Africa’s globally recognised wines. “Meanwhile, we have palm wine and unique traditions here that we fail to promote,” he said, describing Nigeria’s tourism sector as a multibillion-dollar opportunity waiting to be tapped.
