Double Glory for Ekiti! Oyebanji Emerges Best Tourism Governor — Ekiti Named Most Active Tourism State at Akwaaba 2025

“Tourism is the noblest way of telling your story to the world without speaking a word.” — Anonymous

The grandeur of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, provided the stage for history on Sunday, September 14, 2025, as Ekiti State stole the spotlight at the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market — Africa’s biggest tourism gathering. In one glittering evening, the state under Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji bagged two of the event’s most prestigious honours: Best Tourism Governor of the Year 2024/2025, awarded to Governor Oyebanji himself, and Most Active Tourism State in Nigeria, awarded to Ekiti. It was a resounding validation of a two-year transformation that has placed Ekiti firmly on Africa’s tourism map.

The awards, based on a rigorous poll conducted by African Traveller Quarterly in partnership with Akwaaba, reflected votes from tour operators, investors, hoteliers, cultural promoters, and journalists across the continent. The result was emphatic: Ekiti has become the state to watch. Ambassador Ikechi Uko, founder of Akwaaba, summed it up: “Governor Oyebanji has, within two short years, lifted an otherwise recluse tourism state into a global reference point. This is no mean achievement, and Africa must celebrate it.”

Governor Oyebanji wasted no time after assuming office. He detached tourism from the Ministry of Arts and Culture, creating a Bureau of Tourism Development under his direct watch, with Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre as Director-General. From there, momentum became unstoppable: the launch of visitekiti.ek.gov.ng; the inauguration of the Ekiti State Tourism Policy and Tourism Development Master Plan, in collaboration with UNTourism — a world first for a sub-national government; the revitalization of Ikogosi Warm Springs, now Nigeria’s most vibrant resort; the completion of the Agro-Allied Cargo Airport and Ado-Ekiti Bus Terminal; the rehabilitation of access roads to major tourist sites; and the training of 50 professional tour guides, reflecting Nigeria’s religious diversity.

Ekiti also embraced visibility. From the Canadian Consulate Tourism Fair in Lagos, to the NIHOTOUR Gastronomic Festival in Abuja, to the Oodua Tourism Fair in Osogbo, the state became a consistent showstopper. Easter hiking events became signature moments: in 2024, Oyebanji led thousands to the Abanijorin Rock of Wonders in Iyin, joined by Nigeria’s first Tourism Minister, Lola Ade John. In 2025, over 4,000 trekked to Oke Sagbonke in Efon Alaaye, “dining in the clouds.” The community later hosted its own hike — proof that the Community Tourism Initiative was alive. Meanwhile, towns like Ilogbo Ekiti began showcasing their famed 42-headed palm tree, while Ilupeju Ekiti revived the legend of the Oke Ewo War Stones.

Oyebanji’s reforms in security and business also paved the way. With Amotekun, Peace Corps, and Agro Marshals, Ekiti became one of Nigeria’s safest states. Business-friendly tax reforms and infrastructure drew new investors in hospitality and culture.

In Ado Ekiti’s Oja Oba Market, traders celebrated. “For the first time, we feel the world is looking at us. Oyebanji has made us proud,” said bead seller Mrs. Yemi Abimbola. In Efon Alaaye, elder Prince Adeyemi Adejolu hailed: “Now, even our youths see tourism as wealth.” Student Omobolaji Aina of Ekiti State University added: “Tourism is no longer abstract; it is a career path.” Diaspora Ekiti indigenes joined in online, proudly branding the state as Nigeria’s tourism heartbeat.

Receiving the honour on behalf of the Governor, Ojo-Lanre declared: “This award belongs to the resilient people of Ekiti. We are only custodians of what they have preserved for centuries.”

The double victory is more than recognition; it is a blueprint for Africa. With clear policies, bold infrastructure, and community-driven participation, Ekiti has proven that tourism is not potential, but performance.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” — St. Augustine

As the curtains closed on Akwaaba 2025, one truth resonated: Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has not just repositioned Ekiti — he has written its name boldly on Africa’s tourism story.

Congratulations to Gov. Oyebanji. Congratulations to Ekiti State. Long live Nigerian tourism.
Ekiti — The Land of Wonders, Where Nature Meets Culture.