Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has named a United Kingdom-based Nigerian solo driver on a road trip from London to Lagos, Ms. Pelumi Nubi, as Lagos Tourism Ambassador.

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Governor Sanwo-Olu also presented a house and a branded LAGRIDE vehicle with the customized number plate NUBI 9JA to the 28-year-old adventurer.

The Governor assured the travel content creator that the Lagos State Government would write off the entire bill for her solo drive from London to Lagos.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the announcement when Pelumi Nubi, accompanied by her parents, Prof. Timothy and Olubukola; CEO/Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, among others, paid a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina.

Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, the esteemed Director-General of the Bureau of Tourism Development in Ekiti State, spearheaded a dynamic stakeholders engagement meeting on April 4, 2024, aimed at exploring the vast potential of tourism in the region and fostering collaborative efforts for sustainable growth.

The gathering served as a platform for robust discussions centered on the multifaceted opportunities within Ekiti State’s tourism landscape. Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre emphasized the pivotal role of youth engagement in driving tourism development, recognizing the invaluable contributions that young individuals can make towards shaping the sector’s future trajectory.

A key highlight of the meeting was the exploration of potential youth exchange programs with nations renowned for their tourism prowess, including Kenya and Brazil. This forward-thinking approach underscores Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships to enhance Ekiti State’s tourism offerings and expand its global reach.

Moreover, discussions delved into the significance of geo-tourism and biodiversity in elevating Ekiti State’s tourism profile. Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre eloquently articulated the importance of preserving and showcasing the region’s natural wonders as a means of attracting visitors and fostering sustainable tourism practices.

Following the engaging dialogue, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre led attendees on a captivating tour of Ekiti State’s iconic tourism destinations, providing firsthand insight into the abundant opportunities for development and growth within the sector. From breathtaking landscapes to culturally rich heritage sites, the tour showcased the diverse tapestry of attractions that Ekiti State has to offer.

The meeting culminated in discussions surrounding potential collaborations between the office of Youth Inclusion and the Bureau of Tourism Development, signaling a promising avenue for joint initiatives aimed at empowering youth and driving tourism innovation in the state. Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre’s visionary leadership and strategic insights have set a positive tone for future partnerships and endeavors in the vibrant tourism sector of Ekiti State.

In summary, the stakeholders engagement meeting led by Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre proved to be a testament to his unwavering dedication to advancing tourism development in Ekiti State. Through fostering youth involvement, forging international partnerships, and promoting sustainable practices, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre is poised to lead Ekiti State towards a prosperous future as a premier destination on the global tourism map.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has expressed the readiness of his government to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Tourism to harness and develop untapped tourism potentials of the state and make the state a leading tourism destination in the country.

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Governor Oyebanji revealed this on Monday during the 6th edition of Hike Ekiti Mountain safari which took place at Abanijorin Mountain and cave, in Iyin- Ekiti.

In attendance at the event were the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adeoye Aribasoye; Director General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, among others.

The Governor said a properly harnessed tourism industry has the capacity to reshape the economy and improve the revenue base of the state, stressing that the state would leverage on tourism to attract investment, create jobs, boost the local economy and drive the shared prosperity agenda of his administration.

While expressing his gratitude to the Minister for the visit and her commitment to tourism development in the country, the Governor said her commitment speaks to the quality of people working with President Bola Ahmed Timubu to actualize the renewed hope agenda of the President.

Governor Oyebanji revealed that he has charged the state Bureau of Tourism Development to come up with the state’s tourism development master-plan in alignment with the Federal Ministry of Tourism vision to create an enabling environment for the people to prosper.

“I’m so excited that finally, we are giving life to this programme. It started six years ago and I know and am convinced that if we are going to drive our shared prosperity agenda in Ekiti state, tourism is a critical factor in ensuring that we provide job, create wealth and also emplaced a healthy and productive society.

“As a government, we have charged the bureau of tourism development to create a desirable tourism masterplan for the state, because that is what is going to drive our intervention in the tourism sector and we will further collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Tourism by ensuring that we align our own plan with their own so that together we can create an enabling environment for our people to prosper”. The Governor asserted.

Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, who said the purpose of her visit was to encourage and promote the eco-tourism sector of the state, lauded Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to tourism development, especially the creation of a Bureau of tourism.

She maintained that Governor Oyebanji’s determination to prioritize tourism aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led federal government’s resolve to boost the nation’s economy through tourism development.

The Minister, who maintained that collaboration among government entities, tourism agencies, business and communities global is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism in the state, assured the Governor that her ministry would continue to support the state government to explore and tap into various beautiful tourist sites in the state in order to preserve the natural heritage for future generations.

She urged the participants to use the opportunity to contribute to the development of tourism in the state as she acknowledged that the future of Ekiti tourism looks promising.

” Collaboration among government entities, tourism agencies, business and communities global is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism in Ekiti state and beyond and as affirmed by the Governor, he is very passionate about tourism and he intends on making tourism in the state as enviable and as an example to other state in Nigeria “. The Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Governor in company of the Minister and her team had earlier visited the palace of the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye where they were informed about the various natural endowments in the community as well as the history behind the mountain “Okuta Aba ni Jorin” and solicited government’s support in preserving the cultural heritage.