‘WelcomeToNigeria Expo 2025’, a new national initiative aimed at repositioning domestic tourism as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth, is set to debut in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to StarReporters, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE), Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee for the event on Wednesday in Abuja.
Members of the committee were drawn from the FMACTCE and its agencies, alongside representatives from the Ministries of Information and National Orientation, Marine and Blue Economy, Budget and Economic Planning, Interior, and others.
The event, scheduled for 23 to 24 July, is being organised by the FMACTCE in collaboration with WelcomeToNigeria Ltd and other tourism stakeholders.
Dr Muhammad noted that despite Nigeria’s vast tourism potential, the sector remains underutilised due to inadequate investment and lack of coordination among stakeholders.
“Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine that we have not yet explored, and that is tourism,” he said. “It can take us to a level where it will be one of the greatest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP.”
He added that while the sector holds numerous tourism monuments and assets across the country, a strategic, phased approach is required to harness and develop them effectively.
“With the WelcomeToNigeria Expo 2025, we are bringing all of these things to the fore. I charge this committee to remain committed so we can have a seamless domestic tourism expo,” he stated.
Mr Isa Sago, President of WelcomeToNigeria Ltd and National Coordinator of the WelcomeToNigeria Project, said the expo’s theme is “National Agenda on Tourism Partnership, Infrastructural Development, Institutional Linkages, Growth and Sustainable Development.”
He described the event as a rallying point for national participation and a platform to awaken collective consciousness about tourism’s potential to educate, empower, and drive economic development.
“The WelcomeToNigeria Expo 2025 is more than an event—it is a national call to action,” he said. “It will provide a platform to build partnerships, with government leadership creating the environment for innovation and investment.”
The two-day event will take place at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja and is expected to draw stakeholders from federal and state ministries, tourism boards, development partners, creative institutions, and community leaders.
Also speaking, Mr Sunday Bisong, Overseeing Director of the Department of Domestic Tourism Promotion at the FMACTCE, said the expo would act as a springboard for state and local government investment, SME engagement, and cultural preservation.
“This committee is the engine room for coordination, innovation, and inclusive participation across government MDAs and the private sector,” he said.
“We are laying the groundwork for a new chapter in domestic tourism growth.”
(NAN)