Malam Denja Abdullahi, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo (AFTCREE), has announced that the event will introduce “Cultourmetre,” a digital platform designed to track the development of tourism and the creative economy across African nations.
Abdullahi, in a statement signed by Mr. Chuks Akamadu, Managing Director of Afrocultour Ltd., in Abuja on Monday, explained that the expo has been structured to deliver measurable and lasting results.
The Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo is scheduled to take place from November 24 to 25, 2025, in Abuja.
The LOC chairman said the expo aims to provide Africa with a practical roadmap to expand its share of global trade through the culture-tourism corridor.
“Themed ‘Optimising Africa’s Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth,’ the event will bring together policymakers, investors, development partners, and cultural stakeholders from across the continent,” Abdullahi said.
He added that a key objective of the expo is the launch of Agenda 2030, an initiative targeting an increase of Africa’s contribution to global trade from less than 3% to at least 10% by the year 2030.
“Our goal is to boost Africa’s tourism and creative industry revenue by fostering collaboration, peer review, and investment attraction across the continent,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that the LOC has received strong institutional backing for the expo, including endorsements from the World Trade Organization under Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the African Union Social Secretariat in Addis Ababa, and other regional partners.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, led by Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, will host the event in partnership with Afrocultour Limited.
“The Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, will be the Special Guest of Honour and formally inaugurate the Expo,” Abdullahi added.
In preparation, the LOC has engaged a wide array of stakeholders, including African ambassadors, foreign missions from America, Asia, Europe, and Australia, tourism boards, development finance institutions, tour operators, airlines, and creative industry associations.
“These consultations aim to ensure the Expo serves as a continental hub for policy dialogue, business matchmaking, investment opportunities, and cultural exchange,” he said.
Mr. Chuks Akamadu, Managing Director of Afrocultour Ltd. and CEO of the Expo, described culture and tourism as Africa’s “low-hanging fruits” for economic growth.
He noted that despite Africa’s exports totaling approximately $614.58 billion in 2023, the continent still represents less than 3% of global trade and only 5% of global tourism revenue.
“These statistics highlight the urgent need for a platform like AFTCREE to redefine Africa’s economic narrative,” Akamadu said.
He emphasized that Africa must leverage its cultural resources, creative talent, and tourism potential to reduce reliance on foreign aid and take control of its economic future.