Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed its readiness to host the 68th meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa, CAF, in Abuja.
Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa, gave the assurance when a two-man team from the United Nations Tourism Commission for Africa, paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.
The Minister said during her preliminary meeting with the team that the mission is a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration and drive the shared vision of tourism for sustainable development across the African continent.
Musawa added that Nigeria will showcase its rich cultural heritage and also highlight the resilience of the tourism sector.
“We are excited to host this important event and showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and tourism potential. We look forward to working closely with the UN Tourism and other stakeholders to make this event a resounding success,” she said.
She also spoke on the benefits of the Tourism sector and government’s readiness to host the conference which is expected to bring together stakeholders from across the continent to discuss the future of tourism in Africa.
According to the Minister, the tourism sector creates both direct and indirect economic benefits by generating income from tourist activities, including accommodation, transportation, food services and entertainment. Beyond the immediate economic impact, tourism stimulates ancillary industries such as construction, retail and agriculture, leading to job creation and fostering a more diverse and resilient economy. As more people travel to Nigeria for business, leisure, and cultural exploration, the sector’s contribution to national revenue continues to grow.
She added: “I wish to reaffirm Nigeria’s strong partnership with the UN Tourism, recognizing the critical role collaboration plays in achieving sustainable growth for Africa’s tourism industry. Through its continued engagement with the UN Tourism, Nigeria actively contributes to shaping policies, promoting best practices, and supporting initiatives that foster responsible tourism development across the continent. This partnership is essential not only for strengthening Nigeria’s tourism sector but also for advancing Africa’s position as a leading global tourism destination, ensuring that the continent’s rich natural and cultural heritage is preserved for future generations”.
The leader of the UN Tourism team, Elicia Grandcourt expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to host a successful event, citing the country’s experience in hosting previous meetings. She highlighted the potential benefits of the meeting, particularly for Nigerian youth, who can leverage AI for empowerment opportunities. This event, she said, aims to boost social impact and education in tourism through innovation, AI, and creative industries.
She said: “It’s not just about the meeting but also what you, as a country will gain out of this meeting. We will be coming here in June with all the Tourism Ministers in the region. We have seen how the tourism sector in general has shifted on the continent, whereby countries who earlier depended on oil are now moving to the tourism sector because of the economic value, environmental and social impact.
“We will make this valuable, especially for local participants. We will run a technical workshop that focuses on innovation and artificial intelligence, so, we will be capacitating the local team on how they can maximize this sector through the use of the new technologies”.
The Director of International Tourism Relations and Cooperation of the Ministry, Dorothy Duruaku, thanked the UN team for their visit, recalling that Nigeria has hosted the event four times.
“Our ability to host CAF 2025 is not in doubt as members of the organizing committee have been working assiduously to ensure a successful meeting. We will commence inspection of the meeting halls, hotels and other facilities immediately and ensure that everything needed is in perfect order ahead of the meeting,” she said.
CAF 2025, themed ‘Boosting the Social Impact and Education in Tourism through Innovation, AI, and the Creative Industries’, holds in Abuja from June 11-13, 2025. The 68th meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa aims to promote sustainable tourism development and cultural exchange across the African continent.
