The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic collaboration aimed at achieving shared sectoral goals.
As part of the renewed partnership, NTDA is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FTAN to jointly promote Nigeria across international tourism markets, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to reclaim its position on the global tourism stage after years of limited presence.
These resolutions emerged from a strategic meeting between FTAN, led by its President, Dr. Aliyu Badaki, and the NTDA management team headed by its Director-General, Olayiwola Awakan, during FTAN’s courtesy visit to the newly appointed DG.
In his remarks, Dr. Badaki said the visit was intended to reinforce cooperation and advance mutual objectives for the development of Nigeria’s tourism industry.
He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and congratulated Awakan on his appointment. He also highlighted FTAN’s role as the umbrella body for private-sector stakeholders in the tourism space and underscored its responsibility as a watchdog protecting the interests of investors and operators.
Badaki praised NTDA for its longstanding collaboration with FTAN and assured that under the new DG’s leadership, the partnership would reach new heights, with an emphasis on expanding opportunities that would benefit both organisations and the wider tourism sector.
He noted that while the Federation welcomes innovation and fresh ideas, such initiatives must be executed in collaboration with private-sector stakeholders. Badaki also briefed the DG on the significance of the upcoming Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE), for which Awakan has been formally invited as Special Guest of Honour. The event is scheduled for November 28, 2025, in Abuja.
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FTAN’s First Deputy President, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to leading efforts in promoting and marketing Nigerian tourism on the international stage, emphasising the need for coordinated action between both organisations. She explained that, as part of this renewed drive, FTAN and NTDA would strengthen their strategic alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding on joint marketing and promotion, to be formally signed at NTIFE 2025 after NTDA’s review.
Akporiaye further underscored the importance of physical representation at global travel markets and exhibitions. She proposed the creation of a joint committee to ensure early, effective planning and smooth execution of agreed marketing strategies.
In his response, Awakan thanked FTAN for the visit, noting his long-standing association with the Federation. He reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing NTDA’s relationship with the private sector, adding that his leadership would prioritise collaborative programmes aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Awakan stressed that genuine progress in the tourism industry depends on strong partnerships, as tourism is fundamentally private sector-driven. He welcomed the proposed MoU and confirmed his readiness to sign it at NTIFE 2025, adding that the success of the Forum would equally reflect the success of NTDA.
The DG reiterated that Nigeria is richly blessed with vast tourism potential, which can only be fully harnessed through sustained cooperation between government bodies and private-sector stakeholders.