Lagos to host major tourism and cultural exhibition in December
Lagos will welcome thousands of tourism and cultural stakeholders in December for a major exhibition aimed at reviving Nigeria’s tourism industry. The event, organised by Migbaci Expo, is expected to bring together more than 15,000 participants and attract hundreds of thousands more online.
The Chief Executive Officer of Migbaci Expo, Akinwale Alabi, said the three-day event is designed to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage while pushing for more government investment in tourism. According to him, the country has enormous tourism assets that remain underutilised. “Tourism is the way to go. That is the main reason we are hosting this exhibition, to show what Nigeria has and what we are failing to harness,” Alabi explained.
The exhibition will not only feature cultural displays but also serve as a hub for investment opportunities, training sessions, and partnerships. States across Nigeria have been invited to highlight their unique cultural sites, festivals, and traditions. Attendees will also have the chance to win free tourism trips, while new partnerships are being developed to boost the reach of the event.
Foreign delegates, including the Irish Commissioner, are expected to attend, making it both a national and international affair. The organisers also plan to collaborate with the Idea Hub in Dublin to strengthen global impact and networking opportunities.
Tourism consultant Ayo Olesin stressed the importance of Nigeria recognising and promoting its cultural assets. He compared how countries like Germany and South Africa have turned beer and wine into international attractions while Nigeria overlooks treasures such as palm wine and its vibrant festivals. “Tourism is a multibillion-dollar untapped industry in Nigeria. We need a change of mindset to value what we already have,” he said.
Alabi further lamented that Nigeria is “sitting on a gold mine” of tourism wealth, with year-round festivals and heritage sites that remain unrecognised both locally and globally. He noted that what some countries depend on for economic survival is far less than Nigeria’s own tourism potential.
The Lagos exhibition aims to open new doors for cultural appreciation, investment, and interstate collaborations while positioning tourism as a key driver of Nigeria’s economy.
