Ekiti State stands out at 2024 Akwaaba African Travel Market

IN its determination to create more relevance in the tourism landscape of Nigeria as well as stand out as the preferred tourism destination through its wonderful tourist sites, the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, led by the Director-General, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, has continue to explore different niche-driven event to reach and attract visitors and tourists influx to the state.

Recently, Ojo-Lanre, who led a powerful delegation to the biggest gathering of tourism travel trade buyers and sellers’ Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) show in West Africa, said“our goal is to be recognised globally as a leading tourism bureau for promoting and facilitating sustainable tourism experiences, highlighting the diverse cultural, historical and natural attractions of the state.”

The DG also explained that coming to Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM) will help to achieve the five mandate of the state tourism goals which include increasing tourists arrivals, enhancing visitors’ satisfaction, promoting sustainable tourism practices, fostering collaboration and developing diverse tourism offerings.

Ekiti State, which made a prompt attendance at the day one seriously promoting the wonders of the states’ natural tourism potentialities, also stood out at the MICE show as it displayed the academy prowess of the state with the most professors in Nigeria.

He called on tourists, particularly Africans, to make the state their tourism destination, Ekiti state is not only known as the fountain of knowledge, but also as embodiment of huge potential for educational tourism.

Ojo-Lanre said the state is not only endowed with natural attractions for tourists but also has the highest number of professors and experts cut across various fields of human endeavour.

“I am happy to be here because AKWAABA is the biggest platform to market tourism in the whole of West Africa.

“We, in Ekiti, are here courtesy of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to sell the state, not only as a pounded yam hotspot, but also as a state that produces the highest number of professors in Nigeria.

“We are here to market the state as the intellectual base of Nigeria. We are about 3.9million in population, we have over six universities, four polytechnics, three technical colleges and several other academic institutes.

“One of the best private universities in Nigeria, Afe Babalola University, located in Ekiti, also accomodates one of the best hospitals in Nigeria, which tells of our medical tourism endowment.

“So, visiting Ekiti is not just to explore the Ikogosi warm spring, the palmtree with 42 heads.

“We want our educational tourism to be brought to the fore, that is the reason we are dressed in different academic attires to replicate what tourists can see in the state,” he said.

Ojo-Lanre explained that the goals of the bureau is to increase tourists’ arrivals to the state, enhance visitors’ satisfaction, promote sustainable tourism practices as well as foster collaboration among tourism players.

He assured investors and tourists of a conducive environment for business transactions and to unwind.

He said that the Ekiti State International Cargo Airport will be functional from December, to further enhance the ease of doing business.

“You should be assured that when you come to invest in Ekiti, you will not be overtaxed, be assured of gaining access to land and other neccessities.”

Also speaking during the Africa Travel 100 Global Leaders Award, which Ojo-Lanre was a recipient, the organizer of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ambassador Ikechi Uko thanked the state for not only attending but also being recognised as one of the few states making waves in practical promotion of domestic tourism.

IkechiUko, Founder of Akwaaba African Travel Market, praised Ekiti State’s tourism development, attributing its success to the appointment of a seasoned tourism professional.

“Ekiti State’s rise to prominence in tourism is a direct result of having the right person in charge,” Uko said. “As a practical tourism professional, the state’s tourism commissioner has delivered exceptional results.”

Uko emphasised the importance of appointing tourism professionals to leadership positions, stating, “If every state appoints a tourism journalist or expert, they will likely achieve remarkable results in promoting their tourism industry.”

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