In a move to strengthen ties with Nigeria’s premier travel professionals, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA), Pan-Atlantic University, recently hosted the leadership and members of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) on a landmark familiarisation visit aimed at strengthening cultural tourism and advancing the positioning of Ibeju-Lekki as one of the most promising tourism destinations in the country.
The visit marked the first official engagement between YSMA and the national body of tour operators since the museum’s establishment, bringing together tourism professionals from across Nigeria, including representatives from the North, South-East, South-South, and South-West regions. Led by Bolaji Mustapha, president, NATOP, the delegation toured the museum’s galleries and participated in strategic conversations around tourism development, heritage preservation, and destination marketing.
As part of the engagement, the museum presented its broader vision for cultural tourism within the rapidly developing Ibeju-Lekki corridor, positioning YSMA as a key cultural anchor within an emerging tourism ecosystem that includes the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Lakowe Lakes, Omu Resort, Eleko Beach, La Campagne Tropicana, and Jara Beach Resort, among others. The presentation emphasised the role of culture and heritage institutions in driving visitor experiences, shaping narratives about Nigeria, and creating sustainable tourism opportunities.
