Mohammed made the call during an interactive session at Experience Olumo: Celebrating Heritage, Inspiring Tourism, held at the Olumo Rock Tourist Complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He said Nigeria’s vast cultural heritage, if properly harnessed, could significantly boost national development.
According to him, the growth of tourism and the creative industry depends largely on the creation of an enabling environment and deliberate incentives to attract private-sector investment. He stressed that investors cannot thrive without strong government backing, particularly in the area of infrastructure.
Mohammed noted that Nigeria currently lacks basic tourism infrastructure, including modern, purpose-built event centres capable of hosting large international gatherings. He argued that this gap limits the country’s ability to fully capitalise on its creative and entertainment industries.
He further said Nigeria’s competitive advantage in tourism lies more in its culture and festivals than in natural attractions, urging policymakers to leverage events such as Ojude Oba and other cultural celebrations to attract global attention. He added that effective use of new media, technology and well-managed digital platforms is critical to projecting Nigeria’s cultural assets to the world.
The former minister also emphasised the importance of grassroots involvement, noting that tourism promotion and national orientation should begin at the local government level, where communities can take ownership of their cultural heritage.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun on Culture and Tourism, Mr Bola Basibo, said the state is repositioning tourism as a major revenue driver. He explained that the recent revamp of Olumo Rock is part of a broader strategy to make Ogun a premier tourism destination in Nigeria.
Basibo recalled that Governor Abiodun had promised in March 2025 to refurbish Olumo Rock, adding that the completion of the project reflects the administration’s commitment to culture-driven development. He said the site is being positioned not only as a tourist attraction, but also as a hub for discussions around history, culture and identity.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Mr Ola Awakan, said sustainable tourism growth in Nigeria would only be possible through increased private-sector participation. He commended Ogun State for the improvements at Olumo Rock and disclosed plans for collaboration to replicate similar standards across other underdeveloped tourist centres nationwide.
Awakan noted that increased tourist traffic during festive periods has already shown positive economic impact on host communities, states and the national economy, adding that such gains can be expanded with consistent investment.
Also speaking, Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Sesan Fagbayi, said the revenue being generated from the revamped Olumo Rock clearly demonstrates tourism’s economic potential. He revealed that the state government is actively pursuing public-private partnerships to develop and manage more tourist sites before the end of the current administration.
Fagbayi said with sustained commitment, tourism could become a major pillar of Ogun State’s internally generated revenue, while contributing to Nigeria’s broader economic diversification efforts.