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Tag: Olayiwola Awakan

  • Nigeria’s culture, food for display at Naija Flavour in December – NTDA boss

    Nigeria’s culture, food for display at Naija Flavour in December – NTDA boss

    The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Olayiwola Awakan, has assured Nigerians that the Agency’s target is to build a tourism industry that generates income, sustains jobs, and promotes national pride.

    Awakan explained that Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy remain a driving force of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He spoke in Abuja at the official unveiling of Naija Flavour, destination December 2025.

    Destination December 2025 is a creative tourism event scheduled for 13 December 2025 to showcase Nigerian food, fashion, theatre, music, and a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) marketplace to promote tourism and the Nigerian economy.

    The event, Awakan said, will provide a visibility platform for culture, entrepreneurship, food, fashion, games, musical concerts, and live theatre to thrive.

    Awakan stressed that it will be a space where businesses meet opportunities, where SMEs gain customers and partners, and where tourism becomes a real economic force.

    He added, “Naija Flavour is not just entertainment; it is economic empowerment.” He noted that through Naija Flavour, “we are giving these businesses visibility, access, and platforms to thrive.”

    “Naija Flavour has been conceptualized to generate wealth, empower local businesses, strengthen our creative economy, and build a tourism experience that sustains itself and stimulates national growth,” he added.

    He also stressed that Nigeria is not just a country, “We are a global vibe, especially in December. Our December has become world-famous. “Detty December” is a period when the world comes to us to taste our culture, feel our music, eat our food, wear our fashion, and immerse ourselves in the energy that makes Nigeria unforgettable.

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    ‘Naija Flavour is a taste of our diversity. It is a toast to our creativity. It is a stage for innovation. A celebration of tourism powered by the people. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we will continue to build a tourism industry that generates income, sustains jobs, and promotes national pride.”

    Some of the programs outlined for the event, according to him, include a theatrical production titled “Echoes of the Drums.” This is a celebration of communal life, unity, eco-tourism, spirituality, supernatural folklore, and our rich ancestral heritage. “The drum is not only an instrument; it is communication, identity, celebration, and a spiritual pulse that connects generations.

    “Echoes of the Drums” is written by my humble self. Ola Awakan, directed by the renowned Isioma Williams, and produced through a strategic NTDA collaboration with the Guild of Theatre Arts Drummers (GOTHAD), together, we are using theatre as a tool for tourism storytelling and cultural preservation.”

    He therefore urged Small and Medium Entrepreneurs and creative entrepreneurs to use the opportunity to showcase their brilliance.

  • Awakan vows to drive Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda through tourism

    Awakan vows to drive Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda through tourism

    The newly appointed Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Mr. Olayiwola Awakan, has pledged to usher in a new era of innovation, collaboration, and renewed commitment towards repositioning Nigeria’s tourism industry.

    Awakan, who assumed office at the Authority’s Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, assured that he would consolidate on the successes of his predecessors and build a more vibrant, efficient, and responsive NTDA capable of attracting tourists and investors to Nigeria.

    “My predecessors have done excellently well to the best of their ability, and the baton of leadership has been passed to me. I will take it up from here,” he said.

    Upon his arrival, Awakan was received by the Management Team of the Authority, led by Mr. Ovie Esewhaye, the Director overseeing the Office of the Director-General, who presented the official handover note. The new helmsman thereafter met with the Directors, toured the NTDA offices, and addressed the general staff at the NTDA Village Hall.

    In his maiden address, Awakan expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda through tourism.

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    “I’m happy to be here; this is a new dawn. There’s a lot to be done, and by the grace of God, it will be done,” he stated.

    “Let me start by appreciating the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda through tourism.”

    Mr. Awakan also acknowledged the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, for her visionary leadership and tireless efforts in repositioning the sector despite limited resources.

    “The responsibility bestowed on her is weighty, and even with the limited resources, she has been able to push ahead. I am here to complement her efforts,” he noted.

    He stressed the importance of teamwork, innovation, and inclusivity in achieving the Authority’s mandate.

    “We need newness, freshness, and I can’t do it alone. We need collaborative effort,” he said.

    “I operate an open-door policy; no idea is a bad idea; it can be refined into a fantastic one. Let’s make history together and make Mr. President proud.”

    Mr. Awakan is an award-winning journalist, thespian, dramatist, poet, and culture and tourism enthusiast. His appointment reflects President Tinubu’s continued commitment to leveraging creativity, culture, and tourism as key drivers of national economic diversification and growth.