The Ethiopian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, His Excellency Legesse Gerenew Haile, has expressed Ethiopia’s readiness to strengthen cultural tourism ties with Nigeria. He emphasized that such collaboration would contribute to the $3 trillion intra-African continental economy.

Ambassador Haile, who assumed office in Nigeria less than a month ago, highlighted Nigeria as a vital cultural tourism source market in Africa. During a meeting with the leadership of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) at the Ethiopian Embassy in Abuja, he underscored his commitment to fostering tourism trade relations between the two nations.

“Ethiopia is not strange to Nigerians, but we want to further escalate the various cultural tourism offerings in our country to Nigerians,” Ambassador Haile said. He stressed Ethiopia’s historical and religious sites, world-class hospitality, and strong trade groups as key attractions.

He expressed gratitude to the FTAN delegation, led by President Mr. Nkereweum Onung, for visiting the embassy and reiterated his mission to bridge cultural tourism narratives. “Ethiopia is ready and willing to welcome Nigerians. Part of my mission is to facilitate opportunities that would cement closer relationships between both countries,” he added.

FTAN President, Mr. Nkereweum Onung, lauded the ambassador’s initiative, describing it as a significant step toward mobilizing cultural tourism within Africa. He acknowledged Ethiopia’s reputation for robust tourism and hospitality infrastructure and emphasized the need for practical trade missions and training exchanges.

“We want to see a more practical and robust relationship between culture and tourism. FTAN is committed to providing the necessary support to ensure these policies translate into impactful results,” he said.

Mr. Asika, in his response, outlined his goal of enabling the private sector to drive Nigeria’s cultural tourism. He invited FTAN to collaborate on upcoming initiatives, including the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), scheduled to run from November 24 to 30 in Abuja.

“I look forward to working with FTAN and other stakeholders in structured sessions to align expectations and add value to our cultural tourism policies,” Asika concluded.

These engagements underscore the growing emphasis on collaboration to harness Africa’s rich cultural tourism potential. The Ethiopian-Nigerian partnership, coupled with strengthened local efforts, is expected to drive growth, foster unity, and create new economic opportunities across the continent.