Lagos will in December host a large-scale cultural and tourism exhibition aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s underdeveloped tourism sector.
The three-day event, organised by Migbaci Expo, is expected to draw more than 15,000 industry stakeholders locally and internationally, with an even wider audience expected to follow online through social media platforms.
Chief Executive Officer of Migbaci Expo, Akinwale Alabi, said the exhibition is designed to highlight the urgent need for deliberate investment and policy support to unlock Nigeria’s tourism potential.
> “Tourism is the future. This event is about opening eyes to what Nigeria has but has failed to harness,” Alabi stated.
The expo will feature training sessions, investment drives, and interstate collaborations, with states across the country invited to showcase their distinct cultural heritage and tourist attractions. Attendees will also benefit from incentives, including free tourism trips, while a series of partnerships are being finalised to boost the event’s impact.
Alabi described Nigeria as “sitting on a gold mine” of cultural heritage and festivals that remain underutilised.
> “There is a year-round calendar of tourism activities in Nigeria that both government and the private sector continue to overlook. Other countries rely on far less than what we have for economic survival,” he noted.
The exhibition will attract international participation, with the Irish Commissioner and other foreign delegates expected to attend. It will also partner with the Idea Hub in Dublin to strengthen its reach.
Tourism consultant Ayo Olesin underscored the importance of commercialising Nigeria’s cultural assets, pointing to examples abroad.
“In Germany, beer festivals draw tourists. In Cape Town, their wines are global attractions. Meanwhile, Nigeria has palm wine and unique traditions we do not showcase,” he said.
Olesin stressed that Nigeria’s tourism industry has the potential to become a multibillion-dollar driver of economic growth if stakeholders change their mindset and actively promote cultural heritage.
