By Milcah Tanimu
The federal government has announced plans to establish a national committee dedicated to promoting Nigeria’s agritourism sector. This initiative aims to capitalize on the growing global interest in agritourism and strengthen the agribusiness sector by developing a comprehensive framework and standard operating guidelines.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, made this announcement in Abuja during the inaugural World Agritourism Day celebration in Nigeria. He commended the World Agritourism Organisation (WAO) and its President, Trust Henry Ogboi, for their significant contributions to the development of agritourism and the successful celebration of the event.
Abdullahi highlighted agritourism’s potential to offer financial, educational, and social benefits by connecting visitors with the agricultural landscape through farm tours, festivals, and educational programs. He also emphasized the ministry’s commitment to working with various stakeholders, including other federal ministries and the private sector, to create a sustainable system that ensures standards and regulations are upheld.
WAO President Trust Henry Ogboi underscored the importance of agritourism as an industry capable of generating substantial foreign exchange and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economy. He expressed optimism about evolving WAO into the United Nations World Agritourism Organisation (UNWAO).
The event also saw the launch of the Nigerian Agritourism Village initiative. This collaborative effort with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security aims to establish agritourism sites across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to attract investments and further develop the sector.
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