The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has said that the Destination 2030 project of the ministry will be used to reposition Nigeria in the eyes of the world.

She disclosed this during the Destination 2030 Data Platform Strategic Retreat held at John McGee Hall in Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Conference Centre, Ekiti State from Friday, April 25 to Saturday, April 26.

According to Musawa, the project is one of the core eight initiatives of the Renewed Hope Cultural and Tourism Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s government.

She said, “We want to use our cultural, creative and tourism assets to create contents. The interest is in Nigeria, and when you talk about that content, our beautiful landscapes and the beaches. Just the beauty of nature in Nigeria adds to that content that you speak of the country.”

“So we want to use that to change the mindset of people; that is where our power lies. We want to change the mindset of the global community as to what Nigeria is. 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.

“We want to position Ikogosi as a flagship destination for both domestic and international tourists. I want to thank Mr. President because of his prompting and mandate that he has given that we must deliver this to the Nigerian people,” Musawa added.

Speaking earlier at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Presidential Suite at the Resort Centre, the minister disclosed the ministry is intentional in working with the private sector in developing and harnessing tourism potentials in Nigeria.

She pledged that the ministry would work with Cavista Holdings — the parent company of Glocient Hospitality, the concessionaire and manager of Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Conference Centre — in developing and promoting the site as a global destination.

“We want to deliver places like Ikogosi not just as local attractions, but as holistic tourist destinations that can compete globally. That means infrastructure —especially road access— must be a priority,” the minister enthused.

She stated that though she arrived Ekiti through Akure and enjoyed the scenic drive to Ikogosi. She noted that poor road conditions from major hubs remain a major deterrent for potential visitors. She assures of the federal government commitment towards tackling the challenge.

“The federal government is committed to ensuring the provision of much-needed infrastructure, particularly easier access to the resort to help it thrive. Discussions are already underway to facilitate this.

“I have already started discussions with the state government and, of course, other MDAs through inter-ministerial collaboration, to ensure that access to Ikogosi become 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,” Musawa stated.

Speaking further, the minister on a strategy to spotlighting unique destinations rather than the country as a whole —a model similar to how international tourists recognised places like Cancun in Mexico, the adds “We want to sell Nigerian tourism through the lens of specific destinations. When people think of going to Ikogosi, they should want to go there like they would want to go to Bali or Santorini.

“Nobody has to go out of Nigeria to experience peace, beauty, and nature. If you want a retreat, if you want tranquility and luxury in one place, Ikogosi offers that. The natural beauty here, the mystique of the warm and cold springs, and the care in developing this resort make Ikogosi a powerful starting point,” Musawa explained.

Emphasizing the importance of partnerships and collaborations, she adds: “It is really about conversations with other MDAs to ensure that everyone pulls their weight to deliver on this destination.

“That attention to detail that we have seen at the resort has met a sort of rallying point with nature. And this beauty that you see here is something that we really want to deliver for domestic tourism and international tourism.”

After a guided tour to some of the facilities in the resort, Musawa described it as “magical”, adding that she was completely blown away. “This is absolutely magical. They (Cavista Holdings) have raised the bar and it should be maintained. What has been done here can be replicated in any part of the world.”

She assured that the ministry under her watch would do everything possible to bring both domestic and international traffic to Ikogosi Warm Springs and Conference Centre.

The General Manager of Glocient Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Cavista Holdings, managers of the Ikogosi Resort, Lanre Sharafa Balogun, commended the minister for her dedication and commitment in growing the tourism sector in Nigeria.

He said, “We are honoured to welcome the Honourable Minister Hannatu Musawa to Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort. Her commissioning of our Presidential Suite and her leadership at the Destination 2030 Retreat reinforce our shared vision of building a smarter, more sustainable tourism ecosystem for Nigeria.”

‘With these developments, Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort is poised to strengthen its position as a top destination for leisure, business, and policy innovation in Nigeria,” Balogun added.