A defining and historic milestone has been recorded in the annals of tourism development in Nigeria as the Ekiti State Executive Council (EXCO) formally approved the implementation of the Ekiti State Tourism Policy alongside the Ekiti State Tourism Development Master Plan (2025–2035).
This landmark approval signals a new strategic dawn in the transformation of Ekiti State’s tourism corridor and firmly positions the State on the path to becoming a premier heritage and nature-based tourism destination in Nigeria, West Africa, and the global tourism marketplace.
With this singular achievement, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has broken what industry observers describe as Nigeria’s longstanding “tourism governance jinx” by emerging as the first State Governor in the history of tourism development in Nigeria to initiate, produce, and secure Executive approval for the two most fundamental tourism development instruments — a Tourism Policy and a Tourism Development Master Plan — in a deliberate and sequential order.
This dual-document governance architecture provides, for the first time, a structured institutional compass and an execution blueprint for tourism growth not only in Ekiti State but as a reference model for sub-national tourism planning across Nigeria.
Even more historically significant is the global institutional collaboration that underpinned the policy framework. For the first time in the history of the United Nations Tourism system, the global body directly collaborated with a sub-national government in the conceptualisation and development of a Tourism Policy — the Ekiti State Tourism Policy. The organisation deployed its officials to provide technical guidance, international benchmarking, and professional advisory support, thereby conferring global credibility and international currency on the document.
The Tourism Development Master Plan (2025–2035), approved for implementation by EXCO, is designed as a long-term strategic roadmap to unlock Ekiti State’s vast but previously under-optimised tourism assets. It provides a comprehensive, practical, and sustainable framework to transform the State into a leading tourism hub through phased infrastructure development, investment mobilisation, thematic tourism circuits, and enhanced visitor experience systems.
The Plan aligns with international standards and reflects collaboration with global institutions while placing strong emphasis on job creation, local enterprise stimulation, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth for host communities.
Developed under the coordination of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, the Master Plan leverages Ekiti’s rich endowments — including waterfalls, warm springs, mountains, cultural heritage corridors, historical relics, and eco-tourism landscapes — to enhance the State’s competitive positioning as a destination of choice.
To ensure technical depth and global best practice, Red Clay Advisory Services, a reputable tourism planning and advisory firm, was engaged to prepare the Master Plan and deliver a forward-looking blueprint tailored to Ekiti’s unique tourism identity and development aspirations.
Complementing the Master Plan is the Tourism Policy Document — a strategic governance framework designed to guide implementation, regulation, investment promotion, institutional coordination, and sustainable tourism growth.
The Policy Document, also driven by the Bureau of Tourism Development, establishes the philosophical foundation upon which the Master Plan operates. It promotes eco-tourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, and business tourism while outlining mechanisms for infrastructure enhancement, safety standards, service excellence, and niche market development.
Overseas Credit & Private Equity Limited was engaged to develop the Policy framework, bringing its expertise in tourism planning and advisory services to bear in crafting a globally compliant policy structure.
Together, the Tourism Policy serves as the compass, providing direction, governance structure, and regulatory clarity, while the Tourism Development Master Plan stands as the execution engine, translating vision into projects, investments, infrastructure, and measurable socio-economic outcomes.
Wale Ojo-Lanre reacts to the approval
Speaking on the historic approval, the Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq., described the moment as:
“A structural rebirth of tourism governance not only in Ekiti State but a reference point for sub-national tourism development across Nigeria. This approval moves tourism from aspiration to execution.”
He noted that the next phase would focus on implementation activation, stakeholder mobilisation, investment attraction, and institutional delivery mechanisms.
The ultimate goal of the twin documents is to unlock Ekiti State’s vast tourism potential, generate sustainable employment, stimulate small and medium enterprises, attract domestic and international visitors, and deliver shared prosperity to residents and investors alike.
With this approval, Ekiti State sets its sights on attaining global recognition as a leading eco-cultural tourism destination.
Further announcements on policy unveiling, investment summits, and implementation milestones will be communicated in due course.
