The Eko Tourism Foundation (ETF) was officially unveiled on Thursday with a bold mandate to make Lagos Africa’s tourism hub and to signal a new era for Nigeria’s tourism sector.
Delivering his address at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, the Chairman of ETF’s Board of Trustees and Governing Board, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described ETF as “a bold, forward-thinking initiative designed to transform Lagos into Africa’s foremost tourism destination.”
He said the mandate of the ETF, an initiative of the 137-year-old Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, includes the creation of an all-inclusive platform for government, private sector and tourism stakeholders; serving as the policy advocacy voice of the tourism industry, positioning Lagos as the partner of choice for global tour operators and leading the global marketing of Destination Lagos and, by extension, Destination Nigeria.
“Tourism is one of the most powerful engines of growth anywhere in the world. The Eko Tourism Foundation will harness that power to drive Nigeria’s economy and create millions of jobs,” said Alhaji Mohammed, who was Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism from 2015 to 2023.
“Lagos has already captured global attention with ‘Detty December’, our concerts, nightlife, Owambe parties, fashion, food and culture. The Foundation will ensure this energy is sustained and scaled into a year-round global attraction,” he said.
Reaffirming the pivotal role of tourism, the ETF Board of Trustees’ Chairman noted that the tourism industry currently provides 10-15 million jobs nationwide, and contributed 3.6% to Nigeria’s GDP, representing over US$17.3 billion, in 2022.
He further disclosed that Lagos alone boasts over 2,000 hotels with 70,000 rooms, and some of the highest occupancy rates in Africa.
Quoting the World Travel & Tourism Council, he said Nigeria’s tourism will grow by 5.4% annually (2023–2030), creating 2.6 million new jobs and adding US$5.58 billion in revenues.
The former Minister said ETF’s vision is to make tourism a sustainable alternative to Nigeria’s oil-driven economy, while the mission is to bring the world to Lagos “for our history, landmarks, food, music, film, fashion, arts and culture.”
On how the Foundation would achieve its mandate, he listed some of its key strategic programmes as Eko Tourism Foundation Trust Fund to attract investments; ETF Academy for human capital development; ETF Annual International Conference & Exhibition to showcase Lagos globally; Experience Lagos Project with immersive and virtual tours; ETF Quarterly Publication to share data and insights and ETF Club for students and the ETF Annual Festival to nurture future generations.
Alhaji Mohammed said the Foundation has introduced multiple categories of membership with benefits tailored to stakeholders, including: Grand Patron, Chancellor, Champions, Ambassadors, Patrons, Custodians, Pillars, Industry, Heroes, and the Face of ETF.
He commended Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, FCA, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Founding Father of the Foundation, for the vision that birthed the ETF.
He also saluted the distinguished Board of Trustees – HRH Erelu Abiola Dosunmu (Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos), Chief (Dr.) Nike Okundaye, Prince (Dr.) Yemisi Shyllon, Mr. Karl Hala, Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo, and Dr. Tunde Lawrenson – for their commitment to making the dream a reality.
The ETF Board of Trustees’ Chairman sought the cooperation of all Nigerians in order to unlock the industry’s potential:
“The tourism sector has suffered from incoherent voices and fragmented efforts for too long. The Eko Tourism Foundation is here to harmonize the industry, engage government productively, attract investments and create millions of jobs.
“But we cannot do it alone. We need YOU – industry players, policymakers, investors, the media and every Lagosian – to partner with us. Together, let us make Lagos not just a commercial hub, but the tourism capital of Africa”.
