The Board of Management and Directors of Africa Travel Quarterly (ATQ) Magazine, organisers of the Traveller’s Awards and the Akwaaba Travel Market, have declared the Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as the Best Tourism Governor 2024.
Governor Oyebanji, who has distinguished himself as the first Nigerian Governor to initiate a State Tourism Policy and a Tourism Development Master Plan, as well as creating a dedicated Bureau of Tourism Development under his personal supervision, polled an overwhelming 89.5% of votes cast by tourism professionals across the West African sub-region.
The prestigious Tourism Governor of the Year Award will be formally bestowed on him on Friday, 15 September 2025, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the Akwaaba ceremony which will bring together global travel professionals, investors, cultural icons, and policymakers.
According to Ambassador Ikechi Uko, President of ATQ Magazine, “The Governor of Ekiti State was overwhelmingly voted in the scheme conducted among tourism stakeholders across West African countries.”
Governor Oyebanji has set himself apart through unprecedented reforms. He initiated the documentation of a comprehensive State Tourism Policy alongside the Ekiti State Tourism Development Master Plan, providing a clear and sustainable roadmap for tourism growth. To ensure speed and discipline in execution, he established the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, carved out of the former Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, and placed it directly under his personal supervision. This bold structural reform has given coherence, urgency, and measurable impact to his vision.
These reforms have already yielded visible achievements. The Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort has been revitalised through strategic concession, transforming it into a modern eco-resort and conference hub. Ekiti successfully hosted the seventh edition of Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari, popularly tagged “Hike & Dine in the Clouds” at Sagbonke Mountain in Efon Alaaye. The state also unveiled the Abanijorin Rock of Wonders in Iyin-Ekiti, a geological marvel with a natural amphitheatre seating 240 people, seven caves, and an under-rock tunnel which attracted national attention, including a visit by the Honourable Minister of Tourism.
In 2024, Ekiti hosted World Tourism Day at the historic Oke Ewo War Memorial Site in Ilupeju, combining heritage preservation with grassroots empowerment. To boost manpower, 45 professional tour guides were trained and equipped with international-standard visitor management and interpretation skills, enhancing visitor experience while creating new job opportunities.
Governor Oyebanji also ensured Ekiti’s presence was felt across national and international tourism platforms. The state’s delegation stood out at the Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, topped all others at the NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival in Abuja, and reinforced Yoruba pride at the Oodua Tourism Fair in Osogbo. Ekiti’s showcase at the 7 Wonders of Naija Expo at the National Museum in Lagos was recognised as one of the best in the country. At the UN Tourism 68th Commission for Africa Summit in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima spotlighted Ekiti on the global stage, as the DG of the Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, proudly donned the Visit Ekiti cap — a symbolic moment that resonated nationally and internationally.
The Governor’s efforts have also drawn recognition from cultural institutions. In addition to the Africa Travel Magazine honour, Goge Africa, the pan-African cultural brand, named him Best Governor in Cultural Tourism Promotion 2024. Meanwhile, Ekiti’s consistent ranking as Nigeria’s most transparent state in fiscal governance has boosted investor confidence, ensuring that tourism concessions and partnerships thrive in a stable environment.
Speaking on the significance of the award, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, said:
“This honour is a validation of Governor Oyebanji’s visionary leadership and the collective effort of the people of Ekiti. From Ikogosi to Abanijorin Rock, from our gastronomy showcases to international fairs, Ekiti has risen as the heartbeat of tourism in Nigeria. Our mandate remains clear — to deliver the Governor’s vision with speed, professionalism, and excellence.”
With clarity of policy, a dedicated Bureau, innovative products, skilled manpower, and bold marketing, Ekiti State under Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has emerged as the tourism heartbeat of Nigeria. On September 15, 2025, at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, the Governor will proudly receive the Tourism Governor of the Year Award, a recognition that crowns two years of transformative leadership and firmly positions Ekiti on the continental tourism map.
