Governor Oyebanji Wins Best Tourism Governor Award at Akwaaba 2025

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In a remarkable achievement, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has been honoured with two prestigious awards at the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market 2025, held at the grandeur of Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Recognised as the largest and most influential tourism gathering in Africa, the event saw Governor Oyebanji clinch the Best Tourism Governor of the Year 2024/2025 award, while Ekiti State itself was named the Most Active Tourism State in Nigeria. 

These accolades, determined through a rigorous poll by African Traveller Quarterly magazine in partnership with Akwaaba, reflect votes cast by tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, investors, hoteliers, cultural promoters, and journalists across the continent.

Governor Oyebanji’s transformative journey in tourism began shortly after he assumed office. One of his first moves was to establish the standalone Bureau of Tourism Development, detaching it from the Ministry of Arts and Culture and placing it under his direct supervision. Appointing Wale Ojo-Lanre as director-general, he set in motion a structured tourism framework for Ekiti. 

The launch of visitekiti.ek.gov.ng, alongside the Ekiti State Tourism Policy and the Ekiti State Tourism Development Master Plan in collaboration with UNTourism, marked a historic partnership, the first between the global body and any state government worldwide.

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Under Oyebanji’s leadership, Ekiti’s tourism infrastructure saw unprecedented growth. A concession revitalised the once-neglected Ikogosi Warm Springs into Nigeria’s most vibrant resort. Key projects like the Ado Ekiti Bus Terminal and the Agro-Allied Cargo Airport were completed, while roads to major tourism sites were rehabilitated to enhance accessibility. Furthermore, fifty professional tour guides, representing Nigeria’s three major religions, were trained to ensure visitors felt welcomed and connected.

On national and international stages, Ekiti proudly showcased its cultural and natural assets. The state’s pavilion stood out at the Canadian Consulate Tourism Fair in Lagos, its cuisine dazzled at the NIHOTOUR Gastronomic Festival in Abuja, and its cultural displays earned ovations at the Goge Africa celebration and the Oodua Tourism Fair in Osogbo. Symbolic events like the Easter hikes at Abanijorin Rock of Wonders in 2024, attended by Nigeria’s first Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade John, and NIHOTOUR DG, Nura Kangiwa, captured continental attention. In 2025, over 4,000 hikers joined Oyebanji at Oke Sagbonke, the Mount of Clouds in Efon Alaaye, inspiring the local community to host independent hiking events, a testament to the success of Oyebanji’s Community Tourism Initiative.

Communities across Ekiti embraced their unique attractions. Ilogbo Ekiti highlighted its world-famous 42-headed palm tree, while Ilupeju Ekiti celebrated the Oke Ewo War Stones, where legend holds that invaders were turned to stone. Oyebanji’s focus on security, through initiatives such as Amotekun, Peace Corps, and Agro Marshals, has made Ekiti, Nigeria’s safest state, fostering a conducive environment for tourism and investment. Reforms to ease business and a favourable tax climate further positioned Ekiti as a hub for hospitality and cultural investments.

The awards sparked widespread celebration. In Ado Ekiti’s Oja Oba market, bead seller Mrs. Yemi Abimbola expressed pride, saying, “For the first time, we feel like the world is looking at Ekiti State. Oyebanji has made us proud.” In Efon Alaaye, community leader Prince Adeyemi Adejolu noted, “The governor opened our eyes to the value of Oke Sagbonke. Now, even our youths see tourism as wealth.” Omobolaji Aina, a student at Ekiti State University, added, “Tourism is no longer abstract; it is something we can study, live, and work in.”

Ekiti indigenes in Lagos and the diaspora flooded social media with praise, hailing their state as Nigeria’s tourism heartbeat. Accepting the awards on behalf of the governor, Wale Ojo-Lanre said: “This award belongs to the resilient people of Ekiti State. It is their heritage, their culture, and their nature that we are showcasing. We are only custodians of what they have preserved for centuries.”

The double honours at Akwaaba underscore Ekiti’s remarkable transformation under Oyebanji’s leadership. In just two years, a landlocked agrarian state has become a continental benchmark for tourism, proving that with political will, strategic planning, and community involvement, tourism can thrive as a powerful economic driver.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) And Answers

Who is Governor Biodun Oyebanji?

Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is the current governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria. He has been recognised for his transformative work in developing the state’s tourism sector.

What awards did Ekiti State and its governor receive?

Governor Biodun Oyebanji was awarded the Best Tourism Governor of the Year 2024/2025, and Ekiti State was named the Most Active Tourism State in Nigeria at the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market.

What is the Akwaaba African Travel Market?

The Akwaaba African Travel Market is the largest and most influential annual tourism gathering in Africa, bringing together industry stakeholders, tour operators, hoteliers, and journalists to celebrate excellence and promote travel within the continent.

What key initiatives led to these awards for Ekiti State?

Key initiatives include establishing a dedicated Bureau of Tourism Development, developing a comprehensive tourism policy in collaboration with UNTourism, rehabilitating major tourism sites such as Ikogosi Warm Springs, enhancing infrastructure, and promoting community-led tourism through events like the Easter hikes.

What is the significance of the UN Tourism partnership?

The partnership with UNTourism (United Nations Tourism) to create the Ekiti State Tourism Development Master Plan is a historic milestone, as it marks the first time the global body has collaborated with any state government in the world.