By Palma Ileye
Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LEXLUC Global Services and Tours Ltd. to promote domestic tourism, cultural heritage and destination awareness across the country.
The agreement provides a framework for implementing and expanding the Meet My Town, Know My State initiative, which seeks to encourage Nigerians to explore destinations within the country and promote cultural heritage and community participation in tourism.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, Chief Executive Officer of LEXLUC Global Services and Tours Ltd., Mr. Oluwole Ajayi, said the initiative was designed to harness Nigeria’s tourism potential, attract investment and create employment opportunities.
“Tourism is number one employer worldwide. Whether we like it or not, we have to key into it and make sure it becomes the number one employer in Nigeria, too,” Ajayi said.
He also highlighted plans for a proposed West African Jollof Rice Championship and Tourism Festival, which he said could complement the initiative’s objectives, subject to the necessary planning and approvals.
Ajayi expressed optimism that the partnership with NTDA would help advance the initiative and attract investors to the tourism sector.
The Director-General of NTDA, Mr. Ola Awakan, said the partnership aligned with the authority’s mandate to promote and develop tourism, stressing the importance of private-sector collaboration in growing the industry.
“It’s a laudable project. We are going to give you national and institutional backing. You are also helping us achieve our mandate, and we are helping you to bring your idea to fruition. So, it is a win-win situation. All of this is in the interest of Nigeria,” Awakan said.
He commended Ajayi for sustaining the initiative and reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to supporting its objectives within its mandate.
The Meet My Town, Know My State initiative is expected to promote domestic travel through organised tours, tourism education, awareness campaigns, events and stakeholder engagements across the country.
Under the agreement, LEXLUC will coordinate approved activities, develop tourism packages, mobilise sponsorship and partnerships, and report on progress, while NTDA will provide tourism information, institutional coordination, policy guidance and support for stakeholder engagement, subject to applicable approval processes.
The signing was coordinated by NTDA’s Head of Legal Services, Olufunke Soleye, and LEXLUC’s Head of Legal, Mary Oluwatoyin Noibi-Edoze.
Also present was the Director of NTDA’s Marketing and Promotions Department, Mr Olufemi Akinyele, alongside other departmental staff.
