Olayiwola Awakan, director-general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, has been appointed as chairman of the African Travel Commission.

The appointment was announced at the recent ATC’s high-level engagement and inaugural summit in Lagos, reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership role in advancing continental tourism.

The ATC serves as a strategic platform to promote intra-African travel, strengthen partnerships, advocate progressive policies, and position Africa as a unified global destination.

It was originally established in 1965 and, in 2021, revived in Ghana as a non-profit under Executive Director Lucky George.

Mr Awakan’s emergence as chairman builds on Nigeria’s longstanding contributions to global tourism development, including its historic role in shaping international tourism cooperation and the evolution of the World Tourism Organisation.

In his acceptance remark, Mr Awakan pledged to drive sustainable tourism growth, enhance competitiveness, deepen cultural exchange, and unlock broader economic opportunities across the continent through strong public–private collaboration.

The NTDA helmsman expressed optimism for Nigeria’s tourism sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He emphasised that Nigeria, under the present administration, was well-positioned to lead efforts to improve visa openness, strengthen air connectivity, and foster regional integration.

Mr Awakan said he would work to bring together tourism leaders from across the continent and to implement collaborative frameworks that will transform Africa into a premier global tourism hub through innovation and strategic advocacy.

(NAN)