• The four-day exhibition (Nov. 12–15) in Dubai spotlights Lagos as Nigeria’s flagship tourism and creative hub.

• Organized by the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and backed by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.

• The event forms part of Nigeria’s drive to attract foreign investment into its tourism infrastructure through public–private partnerships.

Nigeria has opened its pavilion at the Africa Market Place in Dubai, showcasing Lagos as a centre for cultural tourism and creative enterprise. The exhibition, which runs from November 12 to 15, is structured by the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy and organised by the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.

The event, hosted In Dubai, one of the world’s leading tourism and business hubs, brings together African destinations, investors, and travel operators seeking partnerships across the Middle East and Asia. Nigeria’s delegation is highlighting its diverse tourism portfolio, from Lagos’s urban waterfronts and music scene to UNESCO-listed heritage sites such as the Sukur Cultural Landscape and Olumo Rock in Abeokuta.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described Lagos’s participation as part of the state’s long-term strategy to attract international visitors through sustainable tourism policies and private infrastructure investments. Lagos, which accounts for a significant share of Nigeria’s creative industries, is being promoted as a gateway to West African tourism and business travel.

According to organizers, the Africa Market Place serves as a key platform for investment promotion and regional collaboration. Nigeria’s Visit Nigeria campaign is using the event to market cultural festivals such as the Argungu Fishing Festival and the Lagos International Jazz Festival, whilew courting investors for hospitality, entertainment, and travel infrastructure projects. With more than 250,000 cultural artefacts from across Africa on display, the Dubai exhibition is positioning Lagos and Nigeria at the centre of the continent’s cultural diplomacy and tourism branding drive.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang