NTDA Pushes Community-Based Tourism to Boost Local Economies

Nigeria’s Tourism Chief Pushes for Community-Led Development to Boost Local Economies

Oluwafunbi Bello November 12, 2025 2 min read

Abuja, Nigeria – The Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Olayiwola Awakan, has urged the adoption of community-based tourism (CBT) across the country to promote sustainable growth, create jobs, and empower local communities.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, Awakan said CBT offers a practical path for inclusive development by placing communities at the centre of tourism planning, management, and ownership.

“Tourism is community-based, and if you don’t carry the community dwellers along—including traditional rulers and community heads—you will not achieve your goal,” he stated.

Citing successful models such as the Ojude Oba, Osun-Osogbo, and Argungu Fishing Festivals, Awakan noted that these events have thrived due to strong local participation and cultural preservation.

He explained that community involvement enhances peace, authenticity, and sustainability, while ensuring that economic benefits remain within host communities.

The NTDA boss also called for greater public-private partnerships to harness Nigeria’s vast tourism potential, describing tourism as a viable alternative to oil in the nation’s diversification drive.

“President Bola Tinubu is excited about this sector and sees it as a viable alternative to oil,” Awakan said.

He added that the creation of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy underscores the federal government’s recognition of tourism as a major economic driver.

“If Mr President did not believe in the tourism sector, he wouldn’t have created the ministry. All associations and bodies need to work together to champion this sector’s course,” he added.

Awakan stressed the need for inter-agency synergy and capacity building at the grassroots level, saying that community-driven tourism not only strengthens national identity but also contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8, 11, and 15) on economic growth, sustainable cities, and life on land.