Obasanjo urges Africa to unlock tourism prosperity through aviation, culture and unity
Africa's aviation and tourism sectors received a powerful call to action this week. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has challenged governments, private-sector operators and local communities across the continent to preserve Africa's tourism assets and build the human capacity required to transform tourism and aviation into genuine engines of prosperity. His remarks came as he officially declared open the AeroWest Summit 2026 in Lagos, held under the theme "Financing Connectivity: Unlocking Aviation and Tourism Growth in West and Central Africa".
Obasanjo's central message was as candid as it was compelling: Africa does not lack tourism attractions, but it often lacks the knowledge, preservation culture and human capacity to turn its extraordinary heritage and natural assets into sustainable economic value. "We do not lack anything. For tourism, we have it all. The problem is we don't even know what we have," he said, warning that neglect of cultural heritage sites, traditional arts and other attractions is quietly undermining the continent's tourism ambitions.
To illustrate his point, the former president cited the celebrated Adire textile tradition in Abeokuta, Ogun State, describing how foreign tourists eager to witness the craft's production had reportedly been turned away from family compounds still practising the art. "Will they come next time? Will they tell others to come and see how Adire is made?" he asked pointedly, underscoring how community attitudes and hospitality skills can either open or close doors to tourism growth. It is a lesson that resonates far beyond Nigeria, applying to countless heritage crafts across the continent from Ashanti weaving in Ghana to Ndebele beadwork in South Africa.
Aviation, Obasanjo argued, cannot be developed in isolation from broader economic realities. "Connectivity is development," he declared, tying aviation growth to a virtuous cycle of passenger traffic, economic activity and good governance. "For aviation to thrive, there must be passengers. For passengers to be available, there must be prosperity. For prosperity to exist, there must be a thriving economy. For a thriving economy to be there, there must be good governance," he explained. It is a framework that speaks directly to policymakers, airline executives and travel entrepreneurs alike, reminding stakeholders that route sustainability, fleet expansion and airport development ultimately depend on the health of the wider economy.
Collaboration was another recurring theme. Obasanjo rejected the notion that governments alone can drive aviation and tourism forward, stressing that communities, civil society and ordinary citizens play equally decisive roles in shaping how tourists are received and remembered. "We have to work together. We cannot work in silence. It will not work," he warned, calling for meaningful investment in tourism training so that workers and communities understand that every visitor represents a real economic opportunity.
He recalled an experience abroad in which an immigration officer offered him a visa on arrival, remarking that every dollar spent by a visitor benefits the entire country. That kind of mindset, Obasanjo suggested, could transform how African officials and residents alike approach international guests, moving from suspicion or indifference to genuine hospitality and commercial awareness.
The former president also championed the idea of "Global Africa", urging stronger connections between the continent and its diaspora. He argued that African diaspora communities should be viewed as integral to the continent's economic and cultural development rather than as separate entities, a perspective that aligns with the growing success of initiatives such as Ghana's Year of Return and Detty December, and echoes across MICE, heritage tourism and homecoming travel segments now shaping demand into destinations from Nigeria and Senegal to South Africa and Ethiopia.
For sub-Saharan Africa's travel trade, Obasanjo's message contains several practical takeaways. Consultants and operators should recognise that authentic cultural experiences, well-trained frontline staff and community-driven hospitality are increasingly the differentiators that convert curious travellers into loyal ambassadors for African destinations. Investing in guide training, community engagement and heritage preservation is no longer optional; it is central to competitive advantage in a global market where authenticity carries premium value.
Closing his remarks, Obasanjo urged that AeroWest Summit 2026 must mark a beginning rather than another polite discussion. "This conference is a beginning. It must not be the end. We should get it right," he said, describing aviation and tourism as two sides of the same coin. For African trade professionals, that coin's true value will be measured by the practical actions taken in the months ahead, actions that turn dialogue into destinations, and destinations into prosperity for all.
