The 2025 World Tourism Day celebration in Abia State spotlighted a new era of collaboration and innovation, as government officials, private sector leaders, and cultural stakeholders pledged to reposition tourism as a catalyst for sustainable growth and inclusive development.
Held at the JAAC Building, Secretariat Road, Umuahia, the event themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” brought together policymakers, academics, and industry players in a united call to unlock the state’s vast tourism potential.
Representing Governor Alex Otti, Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to leveraging tourism for economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.
“Tourism, if well harnessed, can be a tool for economic prosperity. We are witnessing a transformation that shows how visionary ideas can drive positive change,” he said.
The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hon. Matthew Ekwuribe, in his keynote address, unveiled plans to make Abia a premier cultural and eco-tourism destination.
He disclosed that the ministry had identified over 55 potential tourism sites across the state’s 17 local government areas, describing them as “economic assets waiting to be explored.”
“Tourism is not just about sightseeing; it is soul-seeing. It helps us value what we have and transform it into opportunities,” Ekwuribe said, adding that ongoing initiatives include eco-tourism hubs, heritage site digitization, and youth and women empowerment programmes.
Also speaking, Mr. Wilson Uche Ugwu, Vice President (South East) of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), lauded Governor Otti’s administration for prioritizing tourism development.
He announced FTAN’s readiness to partner with the state to implement its Tourism Transformation Mandate, aimed at strengthening collaboration between practitioners and policymakers.
“This event marks another step forward in our collective journey. The process of reimagining Alaigbo through tourism has truly begun,” Ugwu declared.
Other speakers, including representatives of Abia State University, the EFCC, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Hotel Management Board, pledged institutional support for the state’s tourism vision.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entertainment and Tourism, Hon. Justice Martins, called for action beyond celebration: “World Tourism Day is a call to move from discovery to development, from heritage to hope, and from preservation to transformation.”
The celebration ended on an optimistic note, with stakeholders reaffirming their resolve to build a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable tourism ecosystem anchored on Governor Otti’s vision of turning Abia’s rich heritage into engines of economic growth and cultural renewal.
