Stakeholders in Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry have called for increased investment, innovative financing models and stronger public-private partnerships to unlock the sector’s vast economic potential and drive sustainable growth. The call was made at the 2026 Punuka Annual Lecture held at the PAS World Centre, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, with the theme: “Development, Financing and Value Creation in Nigeria’s Hospitality Sector”.
Delivering the Keynote Lecture, Ian McAuley examined opportunities and challenges within Nigeria’s hospitality industry, stressing the need for strategic investments, improved infrastructure, and policies capable of attracting both local and foreign investors to the sector.
McAuley noted that the hospitality industry remains a critical driver of economic growth, job creation and tourism development, adding that unlocking its full potential would require deliberate efforts to improve access to financing and create an enabling business environment.
Chairman of the event, Tein George, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among government agencies, investors and industry operators, in advancing the growth of the sector and enhancing its contribution to national development.
