The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has thrown his royal weight behind the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Dr. Ola Awakan, with the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NTDA and OJAJA Pan Africa Ltd.
The agreement, signed in the presence of key stakeholders, formalises a strategic partnership between the federal tourism agency and OJAJA Pan Africa Ltd, chaired by the Ooni of Ife, combining public-sector mandate with private-sector expertise to reposition tourism as a major driver of national development.
The partnership is designed to harness Nigeria’s vast cultural heritage, cuisine and hospitality assets to stimulate economic growth, expand job opportunities and enhance the country’s global tourism profile. It also underscores a renewed push to place tourism at the heart of Nigeria’s diversification agenda.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Awakan described the Ooni as “an epitome of culture, a father, and a staunch supporter of the youth,” noting that his leadership and vision embody the values Nigeria needs to project on the global stage. He stressed that the collaboration aligns squarely with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on economic diversification and public-private partnerships.
“This partnership promises transformative benefits for Nigeria’s tourism industry, including economic diversification beyond oil dependency in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” the NTDA boss said. He added that leveraging storytelling, culture and creative assets would help generate sustainable revenue, attract investment, create jobs and boost foreign exchange earnings.
In his response, the Ooni of Ife commended Dr. Awakan’s professionalism, energy and commitment to national development, praising his role in youth-focused initiatives such as the Royal African Youth Leadership Forum. The monarch urged sustained promotion of youth interests within the tourism ecosystem, noting the Director-General’s broad national exposure and deep appreciation of Nigeria’s cultural diversity.
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The Ooni also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for appointing a youthful and forward-looking leader to head the NTDA, describing the decision as timely and strategic for the future of Nigeria’s tourism industry. He remarked that, as a custodian of culture, he personally embodies youthful dynamism in preserving and projecting African heritage.
Symbolic gestures at the event further highlighted the spirit of the partnership, with Dr. Awakan presenting the Ooni with cultural souvenirs, including a Naija Flavour plaque, as emblems of Nigeria’s rich culinary and cultural diplomacy.
OJAJA Pan Africa Ltd, a Pan-African platform renowned for cultural branding and investment facilitation, brings private capital, diaspora networks and global partnerships into the collaboration, creating a robust public-private framework for sustainable tourism development.
