The Federal Ministry of Arts Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE), in conjunction with Koko Beach Hotel and Resorts, supported by the Lagos State government and Lagos State Tourism, Arts, and Culture, hosted its first National Tourism Summit at Koko Beach recently.

The inaugural summit addressed challenges and emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s tourism sector such as inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled personnel and limited destination marketing, as well as also outlined strategies and actionable next steps to boost investment in local tourism along the shoreline ideas on how to prepare for high-demand periods such as ‘Detty December’.

The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, delivered the welcome remarks, emphasising the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing tourism through stronger collaboration with private stakeholders.

According to Musawa, “forum like this allow us to align priorities and identify practical ways to unlock the sector’s potential in the short and long term. Koko Beach is one of the destinations that we have identified that is going to catalyse and open up the potential in the tourism sector.”

Former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), delivered the keynote address, urging stakeholders to focus on long-term infrastructure and Ωdeveloping local destinations, such as the beach, as key drivers of economic growth. He explained how the vision for Koko Beach began during his administration and how he is proud to see it taking shape, noting that the area is now being connected to electrical power.

This emphasis on domestic, resort-based tourism became a recurring theme throughout the summit’s sessions as speakers discussed investment, security, infrastructure, and hospitality. Industry leaders including Mr. Paul Onwuanibe (MD/CEO, Landmark Africa Group), Mrs. Dorothy Duruaku (Director, International Tourism Relations and Cooperation, FMACTCE), and Mr. Richard Shittu laid out a case for inter-agency collaboration, training pipelines, and better destination branding. The session was moderated by the Special Assistant, M&E and Heritage (Policy Lead OHM), FMACTCE, Roshan Nanayakkara.

The second panel, ‘Enhancing Financial Access for Hospitality and Tourism Businesses’, featured insights from Dr. Sonnie Babatunde Ayere (Group CEO, DLM Capital Group) and Mr. Labi Williams (Partner, Kuramo Capital) on behalf of Mr. Wale Adeosun (Founder/CEO, Kuramo Capital).

The session, moderated by Ugodre Obi-Chukwu (Founder/CEO, Nairametrics), focused on how tourism entrepreneurs can become investment-ready in a capital-constrained environment.

Security and logistics took the stage in the final panel, “Improving Accessibility and Security for Domestic and International Tourism – Preparing Nigeria for Detty December 2025.” Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) MD, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, joined Mrs. Bukky Akomolafe (Chief Business Officer, Flytime Group) and Mr. Faiz Nura Imam (Principal Advisor, FMACTCE) to discuss infrastructure, policy, and strategic partnerships ahead of Nigeria’s peak travel season.

In a more focused segment, “Beyond the Shoreline: A Case for Resort-Based Local Tourism,” Shittu challenged attendees to rethink the way they travel and spend money internationally. He urged attendees to also think local when looking for relaxation for the betterment of the Nigerian economy.

Koko Beach Chairman/CEO and co-host of the summit, Shittu, underscored the urgency of prioritising Nigeria’s coastal assets. In his remarks, he said, “The tourism sector has the potential to be a key revenue driver, capable of generating as much income as oil and gas, Nigerians are already seeking beach experiences and the opportunity is to provide more of those experiences here at home.”

The summit attracted a distinguished audience from private and public sector, including former President, the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Abubakar Saraki, former Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Mr. Folarin Coker, former President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr.Amaju Pinnick among others

Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, rounded out the summit with closing remarks, describing the initiative as a vital step toward building a unified and ambitious tourism strategy for Nigeria.