The recent Naija season master brand and the Destination 2030 initiative championed by the Federal Government are commendable policy directions. The vision to diversify our economy away from oil by leveraging our rich cultural and natural assets is not just sound economics, it is a necessity for national survival. However, a policy is only as good as the confidence its authors repose in it.
It is disheartening, bordering on tragic irony, to watch government officials aggressively market Nigeria as a global tourist destination while they simultaneously jet off to destination Europe, Dubai, or the Americas for their own holidays. We are not against officials traveling, global exposure is valuable but when abroad becomes the default and repeated first choice for leisure, it is symptomatic of a deeper malaise, a fundamental lack of faith in the very product they are trying to sell to the world.
If the people entrusted with fixing our security, roads, and healthcare do not feel safe or comfortable enough to vacation in the environments they govern, why should an international tourist?
In this landscape of contradiction, the example set by the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, shines as a beacon of what leadership should look like. We commend Governor Oyebanji for his consistent and deliberate choice to spend his annual leave within the shores of his state, specifically at the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort.
This is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is an economic catalyst. By repeatedly vacationing at Ikogosi most recently during his two-week leave in November 2025 Governor Oyebanji has put his personal stamp of approval on the safety and viability of the location. His administration’s partnership with Glocient Hospitality to revitalize the resort has yielded tangible fruit, transforming a once-moribund asset into a facility that now boasts a new Presidential Villa, world-class landscaping, and reliable security.
Governor Oyebanji’s presence at the resort sends a powerful message to investors and tourists alike, “I am here, I am safe, and I am enjoying it.” This is the most potent form of marketing. It also ensures that the Governor has a personal stake in the maintenance of the infrastructure leading to the resort. When a Governor vacations locally, the roads leading there get fixed, and the security architecture is tightened benefits that trickle down to the local economy and the common man.
In contrast, when leaders take their vacation allowances often denominated in scarce foreign exchange to fund the hospitality sectors of France, the UK, or the UAE, they are engaging in capital flight. They are voting with their wallets against the Nigerian economy.
If we are serious about destination Nigeria, the charity must begin at home. We call on other Governors, Ministers, and Federal Legislators to emulate the Oyebanji Model. Our leaders must become the primary consumers of the Nigerian tourism product. Only then can we credibly invite the rest of the world to join us. Governor Oyebanji has shown the way, others should follow.