The newly sworn-in President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Dr. Aliyu Badaki, has committed to spearheading a Tourism Transformation Movement (TTM) aimed at strengthening the federation and promoting sustainable development within the sector.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Lagos, Dr. Badaki emphasized his administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s tourism industry in alignment with his campaign agenda, which focuses on systemic reform and growth.
With a background of serving as FTAN’s First and Second Deputy President, Dr. Badaki stated that his leadership will concentrate on unifying the federation, empowering underperforming member associations, and increasing FTAN’s financial resilience through strategic initiatives, grants, and fundraising efforts.
He further pledged to build strong collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Tourism and affiliated bodies such as the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA). He stressed the importance of engaging with these institutions in a constructive and cooperative manner to enhance tourism development nationwide.
“We will collaborate closely with the ministry and its agencies, offering support and constructive feedback where necessary to drive progress in the sector,” Badaki said.
Calling on the ministry to partner with FTAN on key programmes and revive the long-dormant Presidential Council on Tourism, he outlined his broader vision to boost the federation’s visibility and operational capacity across all regions of the country.
Dr. Badaki, who is also the founder of Blissy Hospitality Services Ltd, expressed confidence in using his industry expertise and long-standing networks to implement his plans. He described his agenda not as mere campaign rhetoric, but as a roadmap for reform and sustainable progress.
Among his priorities are capacity-building initiatives, regular training, and certification programmes to enhance the skills of industry professionals. He also highlighted the need to address two critical challenges: internal unity and sustainable funding.
To tackle these, Badaki vowed to advocate for policy changes that would unlock Nigeria’s vast tourism potential, while also promoting inclusive leadership by involving more youth and women in decision-making and entrepreneurship within the sector.
He concluded by calling on all stakeholders to support FTAN’s mission, assuring that his leadership will be rooted in accountability, inclusiveness, and dedicated service.