Talking Points As NTDA’s DG, Folorunsho Coker’s Tenure Winds Down

In about a month, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, will complete his tenure.

This development will draw the curtain on what has turned out to be a high-impact journey that began in November 2017 and was renewed in April 2021 based on exemplary performance.

Here are five talking points from the journey that changed the face of tourism in Nigeria for the better.

Topping the list is Coker’s most far-reaching achievement—redefining the legal framework guiding tourism operations in Nigeria.

The NTDA boss worked passionately behind the scenes to help establish the Nigerian Tourism Development Act of 2022, which removed systematic hurdles limiting the industry’s growth.

Although it took a larger part of his tenure to achieve, this pivotal legal framework allows for the much-needed public-private partnership and a more accommodating law that activates a buoyant Nigerian tourism industry.

Experts across the sector and beyond insist that this achievement is highly significant and speaks volumes about the impact Coker has had on the industry.

Another widely discussed initiative from the Director General of NTDA is Tour Nigeria.

Launched in 2017 to promote domestic tourism by encouraging Nigerians to explore local destinations and position Nigeria in the global market as a destination for tourism, hospitality, arts, and entertainment, the brand has amassed over 10 million digital footprints.

With the goal of boosting the nation’s economy by increasing domestic tourism consumption and creating employment opportunities, Tour Nigeria works hand in hand with another digital platform, Nigerian Flavours.

Designed to showcase Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage, Nigerian Flavours has—among other things—hosted a food festival in partnership with Google Arts and Culture to promote Nigeria through food, cooking techniques, fashion, and style.

Like the game-changing legal framework, Tour Nigeria and Nigerian Flavours have been key points of discussion regarding Coker’s tenure.

Also included is the CHIEF plan. Another initiative of the outgoing Director General, it focuses on corporate governance and regulations, human capital development, infrastructure development, events and marketing, and finance and investment. The plan was designed to enhance the tourism industry’s efficiency and effectiveness. A pre-Tour Nigeria undertaking, it ultimately aimed to encourage ease of doing business in Nigeria while serving as the groundwork for the Tour Nigeria project.

Another industry-shaping move by Coker that generated positive discussions was the partnership with Google for Digital Tourism.

The Director General facilitated a collaboration between the NTDA and Google Nigeria that worked on digitizing the nation’s tourism sites and enhancing Nigeria’s online tourism presence, making information more accessible to potential tourists.

The initiative also provided stakeholders, including agency staff, with in-depth training in key and relevant fields of operation.

Folorunsho Coker is leaving at the point of implementation of the transformative new legal framework, which also saw the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)—under which he initially assumed office—transition into NTDA, with him as the pioneer Director General.

This development has also sparked speculations about his next move.