Renewed Hope in Tourism: Ooni, NTDA Unite to Unlock Nigeria’s Cultural Wealth,Sign Strategic MoU
In a significant boost to Nigeria’s tourism and cultural economy, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has thrown his full royal support behind the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Dr. Ola Awakan, as the agency sealed a landmark partnership with OJAJA Pan Africa Ltd.
According to a Press release made available to starnigerianews.com the historic collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NTDA and OJAJA Pan Africa Ltd, chaired by the revered monarch. The agreement is designed to fuse the federal government’s tourism mandate with private-sector innovation and investment, with the overarching goal of transforming Nigeria into a global tourism destination.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Awakan described the Ooni as an “epitome of culture, a father figure, and a passionate advocate of youth development,” praising his consistent commitment to promoting Nigeria’s heritage and empowering young people.
According to the NTDA boss, the partnership aligns squarely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the drive to diversify the nation’s economy away from oil and strengthen public-private partnerships (PPP).
“This partnership promises transformative benefits for Nigeria’s tourism industry, including economic diversification beyond oil dependency in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Awakan stated.
“By utilising our storytelling capabilities, we can generate sustainable revenue, attract investments, create jobs, and boost foreign exchange inflows,” he added.
In his response, the Ooni of Ife commended Dr. Awakan’s professionalism, vision, and dedication to national service, highlighting his instrumental role in youth-focused initiatives such as the Royal African Youth Leadership Forum.
The monarch urged the NTDA to sustain its focus on youth inclusion within the tourism value chain, noting that Dr. Awakan’s nationwide exposure and appreciation of Nigeria’s cultural diversity position him well to lead the sector.
Oba Ogunwusi also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for appointing a youthful and energetic leader to head the NTDA, remarking that he himself represents youthful dynamism in the preservation and promotion of African culture.
The ceremony featured symbolic moments reflecting the spirit of the partnership, including the presentation of cultural souvenirs by the NTDA DG to the Ooni, among them a Naija Flavour plaque, symbolising Nigeria’s rich culinary and cultural heritage.
OJAJA Pan Africa Ltd, a Pan-African platform focused on cultural branding, tourism promotion, and investment facilitation, is expected to leverage private capital, diaspora networks, and global partnerships to complement government efforts in developing sustainable tourism.