Nigeria’s travel sector is on the brink of a bold transformation with the introduction of the country’s first-ever Travelpreneur Conference and Expo—Travconexpo—a landmark MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) event designed to empower travel entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
The announcement was made by Oludayo Taiwo Gideon, CEO of Aeroport Group and the visionary behind the event, during a press briefing at the Aeroport headquarters in Lagos. Travconexpo is being launched under Travconex Projects Limited, a subsidiary of Aeroport, and aims to serve as a powerful platform for innovation, collaboration, and professional development in the Nigerian travel ecosystem.
“This will be Nigeria’s first full-scale travel trade fair dedicated to empowering travel professionals and entrepreneurs,” Gideon said. “It’s more than an event—it’s a movement to strengthen the industry by bringing experts, businesses, and the public under one roof to explore opportunities and learn together.”
Set for September 19–20, 2025, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, the inaugural Travconexpo carries the theme:
“Innovating the Future of Travel: Empowering Entrepreneurs in a New Era.”
The conference will focus on emerging trends and pressing topics in the travel industry, such as sustainable tourism, digital tools, and entrepreneurial resilience in an evolving global landscape. It promises a dynamic mix of workshops, panels, exhibitions, and networking sessions.
Participants will also witness the Travelpreneur Awards, a highlight of the event that will honour trailblazers and contributors in the tourism and hospitality space.
Olaotokunbo Olagoke, Project Manager for Travconexpo, emphasized the event’s relevance in today’s changing global context. “The travel sector is evolving rapidly due to digital disruption and shifting consumer expectations,” he explained. “Travconexpo is our response to these changes—providing the tools and knowledge travel professionals need to adapt and thrive.”
Akinkunmi Awotundun, Project Director, highlighted the event’s broader mission: “This isn’t just a conference. It’s a launchpad for travel innovation in Nigeria. It’s a space for collaboration, opportunity discovery, and industry growth.”
Other key figures at the press conference included Serah Obute, committee member; Miss Rita Ogungbenro, Executive Assistant; and other core team members working behind the scenes to ensure a successful rollout.
Travconexpo aims to create a thriving community of travel changemakers, uniting aspiring travelpreneurs, experts, and the wider public to reimagine the future of travel in Nigeria—and possibly, across Africa.
