Nigeria has reinforced its leadership role in Africa’s tourism landscape with the appointment of Dr. Ola Awakan, Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), as Chairman of the African Travel Commission (ATC).
The development, announced during post-summit engagements following the ATC’s inaugural meeting in Lagos, is being described as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s long-standing tourism diplomacy, which dates back to 1965. Observers say the appointment signals a renewed push to position Africa as a unified and competitive global travel destination.
Originally founded in 1965 and later revived in Ghana in 2021 as a non-profit organisation under the leadership of Dr. Lucky George, the ATC was established to promote intra-African travel, deepen collaboration among stakeholders, advocate enabling policies, and strengthen Africa’s collective tourism identity.
Awakan’s emergence as Chairman draws on Nigeria’s historic contributions to international tourism development, including its role in shaping early global tourism cooperation and supporting the evolution of the World Tourism Organization. Accepting the role, he pledged to prioritise sustainable tourism growth, improve destination competitiveness, strengthen cultural exchange, and unlock new economic opportunities through robust public–private partnerships.
He also expressed confidence in the future of Nigeria’s tourism industry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the country is strategically positioned to champion visa liberalisation, enhanced air connectivity, and deeper regional integration across Africa.
These objectives were reinforced at the February ATC Summit, jointly hosted by the NTDA and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where stakeholders called for coordinated continental action to accelerate growth in travel and tourism.
With Awakan at the helm of the ATC, Nigeria is expected to play a central role in convening tourism leaders across Africa and driving collaborative frameworks aimed at transforming the continent into a leading global tourism hub through innovation, unity and strategic advocacy.