Kogi moves to harness tourism, digital technology for growth

The Kogi Government is exploring digital technology, artificial intelligence and investment opportunities to transform its tourism sector and harness its vast cultural and historical assets.

Mrs Fatima Momoh, Kogi Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, made this known on Sunday in Lokoja during an event to mark the 2026 World Tourism Day.

The World Tourism Day, observed annually on Sept. 27, highlights tourism’s contribution to economic development, cultural exchange, employment and sustainable development.

The 2026 celebration focuses on the role of digital innovation and artificial intelligence in reshaping tourism and improving access to tourism products and services.

Momoh, represented by Alhaji Tanko Inuwa, Director of Tourism Development, said technology had changed tourism promotion and service delivery.

The commissioner said the state was working to bring tourism and hospitality facilities into the digital space, enabling visitors to search for destinations and book hotels remotely.

She said plans were underway to develop Mount Patti into a major tourist hub, including a proposal to install a cable car.

According to her, Mount Patti has historical, religious, social and economic significance, including its connection with the origin of the name “Nigeria.”

The commissioner said the state government was committed to advancing tourism development through infrastructure, policy and digital innovation.

She said a Culture and Tourism Committee had been constituted to make Kogi a tourism hub and establish a unified cultural heritage festival.

The commissioner said the state was working towards developing a comprehensive tourism masterplan and policy to encourage investors and strengthen capacity in the sector.

She also said improved security remained essential to tourism development, adding that efforts were being made to further strengthen peace in the state.

Also speaking, Mr Idowu Ibikunle, Chairman, Kogi House of Assembly Committee on Culture and Tourism, said tourism remained important to economic development.

“This year too, digital agenda and artificial intelligence took the own design policy,” he said.

Ibikunle said tourism was not only about travelling but also about creating jobs, promoting culture, fostering peace and showcasing communities to the world.

“Tourism is not just about travel. Tourism is about jobs. It is about culture. It is about peace,” he said.

He said Kogi is blessed with enormous tourism potential, calling for increased investment in the sector.

Ibikunle assured that the assembly would provide legislative backing for policies capable of attracting private-sector investment into tourism.

The assembly, he said, will also support the protection of culture, heritage and ecosystems, while empowering youths and women through tourism entrepreneurship.

The lawmaker urged stakeholders to “rethink tourism” and invest in Kogi and Nigeria’s rich cultural and tourism endowments beyond oil.

Speaking, Mr Philip Orebiyi, General Manager of the Kogi Hotels and Tourism Board, said the state had begun using digital platforms and artificial intelligence to promote its tourism destinations.

“You can be wherever you are to search events, destinations, hotels, book ahead and then transport yourself. All these are also done by digital technology,” he said.

Orebiyi said the board was restoring colonial relics and other landmarks, including European cemeteries, with support from the Commonwealth of Cemeteries International.

He said cultural festivals were also being digitalised, while the board was profiling hotels across the state to assess their capacity, safety and compliance with required standards.

Orebiyi said the board was targeting youths with digital and creative skills to enable them participate actively in the tourism and creative industries.

“We’re on all the platforms. We’re on YouTube. We’re on Facebook. We’re working on our website,” he said.

He said Kogi’s position as a transit state presented an opportunity to develop activities that would encourage travellers to spend nights in Lokoja.

“The focal point is to create activities that will entice people to want to stay the night in Lokoja,” Orebiyi said.

He said accommodation facilities should cater for different categories of visitors, stressing that they did not necessarily have to be five-star establishments but should be comfortable and affordable.

Orebiyi identified administrative bottlenecks and bureaucracy as some challenges facing the sector but said the board was exploring collaborations and local content to advance tourism.

A tourism stakeholder, Baba Ojonugwa, said Kogi has the Confluence, colonial masterpieces, cemeteries and other attractions capable of drawing visitors from across the country and beyond.

“I don’t think there is any part of the country that has the tourist attraction that Kogi has,” he said.

Newsmen report that the event featured cultural performances and participation by cultural troupes, legal practitioners, ministry officials and representatives of the Council for Arts, among other stakeholders.