EKITI’S TOURISM MASTER PLAN HITS GLOBAL RADAR – eTurboNews Hails Oyebanji’s Bold Blueprint
International Media Outlet Spotlights Governor’s Structured Approach as a Potential Model for Nigeria’s Long-Neglected Travel Sector
Commentary By Woke Adigun Oladimeji
In a major international nod, Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s push to reposition Ekiti State through tourism has captured global attention.
A recent analysis published by eTurboNews, a leading international tourism media platform, has put the spotlight squarely on Ekiti’s newly approved Tourism Development Master Plan. The piece, authored by Juergen Thomas Steinmetz, examines how the state’s ten-year blueprint could signal a long-overdue shift in Nigeria’s approach to tourism—moving away from random events to structured governance.
For years, Nigeria has been tagged Africa’s sleeping tourism giant, blessed with rich culture and landscapes but held back by poor infrastructure, inconsistent policies, and safety concerns. What eTurboNews now recognizes in Ekiti is a deliberate attempt to change that narrative.
The global commentary emphasizes the state’s focus on eco-tourism, cultural preservation, and infrastructure upgrades—all anchored in a policy-first framework. It suggests that if Ekiti stays the course, it could emerge as a working template for other states.
Governor Oyebanji’s strategy is clear: anchor growth on planning, not chance. The plan, approved at the first Executive Council meeting of 2026, prioritizes sustainability over flash-in-the-pan events.
But as the international applause comes in, the real work remains. Implementation, funding, and consistent execution will now determine whether Ekiti’s model becomes a true game-changer—or just another document on the shelf.
For now, Oyebanji has done what few have attempted: he has put a Nigerian state on the global tourism map, not with noise, but with a plan.
Woke Oladimeji former CPS to Ex-Deputy House of Rep.Speaker,Rt.Hon.Lasun Yusuf,is the publisher of African Gong Newspaper.
