The federal government has inaugurated the local organising committee (LOC) for the forthcoming Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo, scheduled to be held from November 24 to 25, 2025.

Mukhtar Muhammad, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, said this at the inaugural event in Abuja.

Mr Muhammad said the initiative represents a strategic step toward positioning Africa’s cultural, creative, and tourism sectors as drivers of economic growth, regional integration, and global competitiveness.

He said the expo, themed “Optimising Africa’s Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth,” will serve as a platform for engaging policymakers, investors, innovators, and creators across the continent.

Mr Muhammad charged the committee to deliver a world-class event that showcases Africa’s rich heritage and creative potential, emphasising the importance of collaboration, transparency, and professionalism in the planning process.

He assured the ministry’s continued support for the committee throughout the planning and execution of the expo, which is being organised in partnership with Afrocultour Nigeria Ltd.

The chairman of the LOC, Denja Abdullahi, pledged the committee’s readiness to deliver a high-impact expo.

Mr Abdullahi said the event would unveil “Agenda 2030,” a continental framework aimed at increasing Africa’s contribution to global trade from two per cent to 10 per cent by the end of the decade through strategic investments in tourism and the creative economy.

He commended the commitment of the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, whom he credited with driving several innovative, data-led reforms within the sector.

Mr Abdullahi explained that the LOC had already begun engaging key stakeholders across Africa, including government agencies and private sector actors, to ensure full participation at the expo.

Activities lined up for the event include exhibitions, trade fairs, investment workshops, cultural displays, B2B meetings, and a peer review mechanism for African countries.

“As a committee, we’re determined to deliver a measurable, scalable, and impactful event that will not only celebrate Africa’s creative power but also boost intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework,” Mr Abdullahi said.

(NAN)