NACCIMA Names Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye Chairman of Tourism and Creative Economy Trade Group

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has appointed celebrated tourism innovator and entrepreneur, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, as the Chairman of its newly reconstituted Tourism and Creative Economy Trade Group. The move signals the Association’s intention to give stronger policy backing to sectors that are increasingly vital to Nigeria’s non-oil economic diversification agenda.

The appointment comes in the wake of the election of Engineer Jani Ibrahim as the 23rd National President of NACCIMA on June 19, 2025. One of Ibrahim’s first moves in office was to reorganize NACCIMA’s trade groups and committees to align with his administration’s vision for economic growth, inclusivity, and investment promotion.

Terms of Reference

In a formal letter issued by Engr. Olusola Obadimu, Director-General of NACCIMA, Akinboboye was tasked with leading a 13-member committee that will design strategies, policies, and initiatives to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s tourism and creative economy.

The committee’s mandate includes:

• Raising awareness about investment opportunities across travel, tourism, hospitality, and entertainment.
• Recommending policy interventions that address long-standing challenges limiting sectoral growth.
• Developing a strategic roadmap to guide the sector’s exploitation of domestic and international opportunities.
• Encouraging collaboration with Nollywood, the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), and creative entrepreneurs to strengthen synergies across industries.
• Implementing creative economy projects, subject to approval from NACCIMA’s President, with the flexibility to adjust the group’s focus as necessary.

Other members of the committee include Dr. Ngozi Omanbala (Vice Chairman); Mr. Iyke Ezeaku Nsobundu; Amb. Ayo Olukanni; Mariam Akpaokagi (popularly known as Taooma); Prince Dapo Adelegan; Jovita Iroemeh; Alhaji Muazu Yakubu Ma’aji; Mr. Maliki Daniel; Ownari Batubo; the Director-General of NACCIMA; and Ms. Ifeoma Ozue.

Why It Matters

Otunba Akinboboye’s appointment has drawn attention across Nigeria’s business and tourism communities. Known for his pioneering work in eco-tourism and destination branding, including the development of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and the promotion of Nigerian cultural tourism to global audiences, Akinboboye is widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost champions of the sector.

Industry watchers believe that his leadership could help position tourism and the creative economy as key drivers of the federal government’s trillion-dollar economy ambition. With Nigeria under pressure to diversify away from crude oil dependence, tourism and creative industries—already among the nation’s top employers of labour—offer viable pathways for job creation, foreign exchange earnings, and global soft power.

Policy and Investment Outlook

Tourism experts argue that Akinboboye’s track record of public-private partnership building will be crucial in mobilizing investment and pushing for policy reforms. Among the pressing issues expected on the committee’s agenda are:

• Infrastructural gaps that limit access to tourism sites.
• Streamlining of visa and travel processes to attract more international visitors.
• Building stronger frameworks for creative exports, including film, music, and fashion.
• Providing enabling incentives for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism and creative space.

  

The Bigger Picture

For NACCIMA, the move reflects a broader strategic direction under President Jani Ibrahim to reinvigorate trade groups as engines of thought leadership, policy input, and investment mobilization across multiple sectors of the Nigerian economy.

As Akinboboye takes on this new role, expectations are high that his committee will not only provide policy direction but also champion projects that showcase Nigeria’s cultural assets to the world. For the creative industry and tourism stakeholders, the development represents a rare opportunity to institutionalize collaboration, expand markets, and secure long-term investor confidence.