The Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, has formally inaugurated the Planning Committee for the highly anticipated Tourism and Hospitality Summit 2025, in a ceremony held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Federal Secretariat Phase II, Abuja.
Slated for November 24–25, 2025, in Abuja, the summit is being jointly organised by the Ministry and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). This strategic gathering aims to reposition Nigeria as a leading destination on the global tourism and hospitality map.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Musawa emphasised the pivotal role of the sector in driving national development. “Tourism, when fully optimised, is a powerful engine for economic growth, employment, cultural enrichment, and foreign exchange generation,” she remarked.
She affirmed that the newly formed committee comprises a diverse blend of seasoned professionals from both public and private sectors—including investors, tourism operators, policy specialists, and development partners—underscoring the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive and collaborative planning.
Committee Terms of Reference include:
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Strategic coordination and overall planning of the summit
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Development of content and themes aligned with both domestic and international priorities
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Stakeholder mobilisation across government, academia, civil society, and the private sector
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Curating summit programmes such as keynote speeches, panel discussions, and exhibitions
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Sourcing sponsorships and building strategic partnerships
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Creating robust publicity campaigns to boost visibility both locally and globally
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Ensuring thorough post-summit documentation and implementation tracking
The Minister encouraged members to approach their roles with innovation and patriotism. “Your expertise, dedication, and passion are the reasons you were selected. We count on your leadership to steer this summit towards meaningful outcomes,” she said. She also expressed gratitude to the NESG for its ongoing partnership in driving national development.
Stakeholders Echo Commitment
Dr. Badaki Aliyu, President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), applauded the Ministry’s foresight in launching the summit and praised the diverse composition of the committee. Representing stakeholders from federal, state, and local governments alongside the private sector, he pledged FTAN’s full support.
Dorathy Duruaku, Director of International Tourism at the Ministry, reaffirmed the committee’s readiness to deliver an impactful and memorable summit experience. A representative from NESG also restated the group’s dedication to a successful outcome, highlighting continued cooperation with the Ministry and all stakeholders.
Celebrating Progress and Partnership
The ceremony closed with a symbolic cake-cutting—marking not just the committee’s inauguration but also the successful conclusion of FTAN’s Annual General Meeting and election of Alhaji Badaki Aliyu as President. The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary congratulated the newly elected FTAN leader and reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to work hand-in-hand with the private sector in building a thriving and resilient tourism industry.
