Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on federal and state governments to prioritize tourism and strengthen private-sector partnerships as a key driver of economic growth. He made the remarks at Experience Olumo: Celebrating Heritage, Inspiring Tourism, held at the Olumo Rock Tourist Complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mohammed described tourism as a powerful alternative revenue source with the potential to contribute significantly to national development if properly nurtured. He emphasized the importance of creating an enabling environment and offering incentives to attract private investment into both tourism and the creative industries.

“What we need is for both state and federal governments to give more incentives to investors in tourism and the creative industry. You can never go wrong,” he said.

He also highlighted the crucial role of infrastructure in tourism growth, noting that the private sector cannot thrive without government support. According to Mohammed, Nigeria currently lacks basic facilities, such as purpose-built event centres capable of hosting large international gatherings.

“As we speak, there is no single purpose-built event centre in Nigeria. Davido performs for 20,000 at the O2 Arena—do we have any venue in Nigeria that can accommodate that? The answer is no,” he said.

Mohammed urged the country to leverage its rich culture and festivals to boost tourism, noting that while Nigeria may not compete with East Africa’s safaris or Southern Africa’s natural wonders, its cultural heritage is a unique advantage. “Tourism is not just about destinations. Imagine what the UK would do with an Ojude Oba festival,” he added.

He also advocated for the use of digital platforms and new media to promote tourism and culture, stressing that government ownership and effective management of these platforms is essential for maximizing their impact.

Mohammed called for collaboration between governments and private stakeholders, especially at the local level, to empower communities to take ownership of their cultural assets. With the right policies, incentives, and partnerships, he said tourism can generate jobs, attract foreign exchange, and enhance Nigeria’s global image.

Echoing this vision, the Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Bola Basibo, highlighted the ongoing revamp of Olumo Rock as part of efforts to position Ogun as a premier tourism destination. He recalled that Governor Dapo Abiodun had promised the refurbishment in March 2025, and the project has since been realized.

“The governor is determined to make Olumo Rock the foremost tourism site. Beyond rock climbing, it will host discussions on tourism, culture, and history,” Basibo said, noting Ogun’s unique cultural assets, including Ojude Oba, Olumo Rock, and the Lisabi story.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, Ola Awakan, emphasized the necessity of private-sector involvement for sustainable tourism development and praised Ogun’s improvements at Olumo Rock. Plans are underway to replicate this standard across other underdeveloped tourist centres in Nigeria.

Ogun Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Fagbayi, noted that the revamp demonstrates tourism’s revenue potential and said the state government is pursuing public-private partnerships to develop additional tourist sites.

“With the governor’s commitment, we are pushing for partnerships so sites can be fully developed and managed, enabling the state to rely more on tourism revenue,” he said.