The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has called for stronger public- and private-sector partnerships to position the Igbo-Ora World Twins Festival as one of Africa’s leading cultural tourism attractions.
The Director-General of the NTDA, Dr. Ola Awakan, made the call while attending the festival in Igbo-Ora, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, where he joined residents and community leaders in celebrating the town’s extraordinary reputation as the Twin Capital of the World.
Awakan commended community leaders for using the annual festival to promote Igbo-Ora’s unique cultural identity and project the community as a destination of international significance.
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He said the authority recognised the festival’s immense potential to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism appeal and attract more domestic and international visitors.
The NTDA director-general encouraged the community to pursue greater collaboration with public- and private-sector stakeholders to expand the festival’s reach, improve its tourism offerings and establish it as a must-visit event on Africa’s cultural tourism calendar.
According to him, partnerships and sustained promotion would help unlock the festival’s potential while creating opportunities for local businesses and communities to benefit from increased visitor spending.
The Igbo-Ora World Twins Festival celebrates the town’s remarkable twin-birth phenomenon, which has earned it international recognition and made it a distinctive attraction for visitors interested in culture, heritage and human diversity.
Located in Oyo State, southwestern Nigeria, Igbo-Ora is widely celebrated for its high incidence of twin births. The community is frequently associated with estimates of about 50 twin births per 1,000 births, although the figure is often cited as a local estimate rather than a universally verified global ranking.
The festival brings together twins, families, residents and visitors to celebrate the community’s identity through cultural activities and public gatherings.
Beyond its cultural significance, the event offers opportunities to develop tourism-related businesses, including accommodation, hospitality, transportation, food services, crafts and other local enterprises.
With growing global interest in distinctive cultural experiences, the NTDA’s participation signals an effort to draw greater national attention to community-based festivals as part of Nigeria’s wider destination-marketing strategy.
Strengthening investment, infrastructure, publicity and stakeholder partnerships could help Igbo-Ora attract a broader international audience while ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism reach local residents.
The festival’s growing profile reinforces the potential of Nigeria’s cultural heritage to support destination development, create employment and diversify the country’s tourism economy.
