Leading voices in Nigeria’s tourism industry gathered at the Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, on Thursday, July 24th, 2025, for the BusinessDay Tourism Conference themed “People, Culture, and Infrastructure: Building Inclusive Tourism Models for Nigeria’s Growth.”
Among the distinguished speakers was Mrs. Wonuola Olatunde-Lamidi, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Diamonds and Pearls Travels, whose impactful voice resonated throughout the conference.
During a pivotal panel session on Sustainable and Cultural Tourism: Preserving Heritage, Creating Wealth, Mrs. Olatunde-Lamidi passionately advocated for a community-first approach to tourism development in Nigeria. She highlighted the vital need to integrate local and indigenous communities in the planning, development, and direct benefit of tourism initiatives—ensuring they are not merely seen but actively engaged and empowered.
Wonuola also called for strategic public-private partnerships, emphasizing that true progress in Nigeria’s tourism sector requires unified efforts between government stakeholders, private operators, and local communities. Her insights reinforced the belief that Nigeria’s cultural depth, creativity, and heritage are key assets—but must be developed inclusively to create real wealth and long-term impact.
Her contribution stood out as a clear reminder that tourism is not just an economic driver, but a social and cultural catalyst—one that, if harnessed correctly, could reshape Nigeria’s global reputation and drive sustainable development.
Also speaking at the event were tourism heavyweights including Stella Fubara, Karl Hala, Sharafa Olanrewaju Balogun, and more—all lending their voices to the call for a redefined tourism agenda in Nigeria.
Speaking during a high-level panel session on Sustainable and Cultural Tourism: Preserving Heritage, Creating Wealth, she emphasized the importance of indigenous involvement—highlighting that for tourism to thrive sustainably, local communities must not only be seen but actively involved in shaping and benefiting from the industry.
She also stressed the urgent need for stronger public-private partnerships, noting that collaboration between government and industry players is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s vast tourism potential.
In a separate exclusive interview with businessdayng, Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Mr. David Olatunde-Lamidi, expanded on this shared vision.
He spoke passionately about the role of Nigeria’s culture, music, and storytelling in building a distinctive tourism brand that resonates globally.
The message from both Co-Founders was resounding: Nigeria has all it takes to become a global tourism destination—but it must be intentional, inclusive, and collaborative.
