Lagos will in December host a major cultural and tourism exhibition designed to reposition Nigeria’s underdeveloped tourism sector and highlight its untapped economic potential. The three-day event, organised by Migbaci Expo, is expected to draw more than 15,000 stakeholders from across Nigeria and abroad, with hundreds of thousands more engaging through digital platforms.
The exhibition will serve as a hub for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and investment, bringing together government representatives, private investors, cultural custodians, and international delegates. Participants will explore ways to transform Nigeria’s tourism industry into a key driver of economic growth, while also promoting cultural heritage and interstate partnerships.
Chief Executive Officer of Migbaci Expo, Akinwale Alabi, stressed the urgent need for deliberate government policies and investment in tourism, arguing that Nigeria is sitting on a vast but neglected resource. “Tourism is the way to go. That is the core reason we are hosting this event to open eyes to what Nigeria has and what we are failing to harness,” Alabi said. He added that the exhibition would not only showcase Nigeria’s cultural wealth but also create opportunities for training, networking, and long-term investment.
The event will feature pavilions where states can highlight their unique cultural heritage, festivals, and tourist attractions. According to the organisers, incentives such as free tourism trips will be awarded to participants, while strategic partnerships are being finalised to ensure maximum impact. The exhibition aims to serve as both a platform for advocacy and a catalyst for developing a sustainable tourism calendar for Nigeria.
Alabi lamented the neglect of Nigeria’s diverse cultural festivals and heritage sites, comparing the nation’s rich offerings to a “gold mine” left unexplored. “There is a full year-round calendar of tourism events in Nigeria that neither the government nor the private sector is leveraging. What some countries depend on for survival isn’t even half of what Nigeria has in tourism potential,” he remarked.
The international scope of the exhibition has already been confirmed, with the Irish Commissioner and other foreign delegates expected to attend. The event will also collaborate with the Idea Hub in Dublin to strengthen international partnerships and increase visibility on the global stage.
Consultant and industry expert, Ayo Olesin, underscored how other nations have successfully turned cultural assets into billion-dollar industries. He pointed to Germany, where beer festivals are global attractions, and South Africa, where wine tourism boosts the economy and enhances international reputation. “Meanwhile, in Nigeria, we have palm wine and rich traditions that we fail to promote. What other countries commercialise, we overlook,” Olesin observed.
He argued that Nigeria’s tourism industry remains one of the country’s greatest untapped resources, capable of generating billions in revenue and creating jobs if properly developed. He called for a change in mindset, urging both the government and the private sector to view tourism as a serious economic driver rather than a cultural afterthought.
The upcoming Lagos exhibition is positioned not only as a showcase of Nigeria’s cultural wealth but also as a clarion call for renewed investment, innovation, and appreciation of the country’s unique heritage.
