ATPN President, Prince Femi Fadina, urges stakeholders at the 2025 World Tourism Day in Abeokuta to harness Ogun State’s cultural festivals and landmarks for sustainable transformation
ATPN President Femi Fadina Rallies Ogun State to Lead Nigeria’s Tourism Transformation
The President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Prince Femi Fadina, has called for a collective push to reposition Ogun State as Nigeria’s cultural heartbeat, urging stakeholders to harness the state’s festivals, landmarks, and creative energy of the youth for sustainable transformation.
Speaking in Abeokuta during the 2025 World Tourism Day celebration themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, Fadina stressed that the future of Nigerian tourism lies in empowering young people while preserving and projecting the nation’s heritage.
“Tourism in Nigeria cannot grow without the energy, creativity, and innovation of our youth. They are the masters of technology, the creators of digital content, the storytellers of our age. Yet energy without guidance is like a river without a course,” he said.
Highlighting Ogun State’s rich cultural offerings, Fadina listed the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode, Egba Lisabi Ganza, the Egungun Festival in Ota, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s global cultural stature, and the historic Abeokuta Golf Course as “complete tourism products” with the potential to boost the state’s global appeal.
“These are not just festivals or landmarks. They are products — cultural and economic assets waiting to be fully harnessed, branded, and positioned in the global market,” he added.
He commended the Ogun State government for rebranding Olumo Rock into a world-class attraction, noting that similar investment and promotion could elevate other festivals and heritage assets.
“As President of ATPN, I affirm that Ogun State already has a government that has shown the way. If Olumo Rock can be transformed, then so can Ojude Oba, Lisabi, Egungun, our golf tourism, and every other jewel in our cultural crown,” Fadina said.
Calling for collaboration among practitioners, traditional custodians, local governments, and youths, Fadina emphasized that tourism goes beyond entertainment, describing it as a vehicle for development, identity, and national pride.
“Tourism is not entertainment. Tourism is development. It is identity. It is dignity. It is ownership of our story. If we do not tell our story, others will tell it for us — and they will not tell it right,” he warned.
He urged stakeholders to embrace mentorship, capacity building, and bold product development to make Ogun State a tourism beacon for Nigeria and Africa.
“Tourism and Sustainable Transformation is not a dream; it is a duty. It is the responsibility of our generation, and it is the legacy we must leave behind,” Fadina concluded. Read More
