Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has revealed that the ministry’s Destination 2030 project is being leveraged to reposition the country in the eyes of the world.
While moderating the Destination 2030 Data Platform Strategic Retreat, which was held at John McGee Hall, Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ekiti State, the Minister elaborated on the project, describing the project as one of the core eight initiatives of the Renewed Hope Cultural and Tourism Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The Vanguard reports that Musawa elaborated further that Nigeria intends to leverage its “cultural, creative and tourism assets, to create content, where the interest is in Nigeria, is the content. And when you talk about that content, our beautiful landscapes, the beaches, and the beauty of nature in Nigeria add to the content you speak of the country. So we want to use that to change people’s mindsets.”
“So we want to use that to change the mindset of the global community as to what Nigeria is. And, you know, part of that story and part of that journey is to use a destination such as Ikogosi Resort as a rallying point to bring people into Nigeria so that they can experience and change their mindset as to who we are as a people,” Musawa added.
The Minister also disclosed the ministry’s strategic partnership with the private sector to develop and harness tourism potential in Nigeria while reiterating the federal government’s commitment to ensuring the provision of much-needed infrastructure, particularly easier access to the resort to help it thrive. She disclosed that discussions were already underway to facilitate this.
“To deliver destinations such as Ikogosi as holistic tourist attractions — not only for domestic tourism but also for global tourism — we must put up the needed infrastructure, and access must be a key focus.” “I have already started discussions with the state government and, of course, other MDAs through inter-ministerial collaboration, to ensure that access to Ikogosi becomes much easier. We want people coming from Lagos to be able to fly directly into Ado Ekiti and then drive a shorter distance to the resort.”
Re-emphasising the need for partnerships and collaborations for the feasibility of the Destination 2030 project, Musawa emphasised the importance of partnerships and collaborations, stating that “It is really about conversations with other MDAs to ensure that everyone pulls their weight to deliver on this destination. “That attention to detail has met a rallying point with nature. And this beauty you see here is something that we really want to deliver for domestic and international tourism.”
Dignitaries at the “Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere” cultural showcase, held during the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2024.
Musawa, after a guided tour of some of the resort’s facilities, described it as “magical. “What has been done here can be replicated in any part of the world,” the minister stated, assuring that her ministry would do everything possible to attract both domestic and international traffic to Ikogosi Warm Springs and Conference Centre.
Destination 2030 Nigeria is a bold national initiative to transform Nigeria into the world’s leading arts, culture, and creativity hub. The project aims to position Nigeria as the global capital for cultural expression, creative industries, and entertainment by strategically harnessing the country’s rich heritage and exceptional talent to drive economic growth and international influence.
The initiative has been adopted as Nigeria’s official global soft power and tourism brand, aiming to attract visitors, investments, and collaborations. Destination 2030 aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly goals related to sustainable economic growth, decent work, innovation, and cultural preservation.
The Destination 2030 projection of Nigeria as a premier tourism destination has already improved Nigeria’s global soft power ranking by 14 places since its launch in 2023. It has expanded Nigeria’s cultural influence and visibility on the world stage and made it a lucrative destination for investment in the creative and tourism industries.
