Gloria Ehichanya Abiodun, the Chief Executive Officer of Clyymaxx Heritage Travels and Tours Limited, talks on how partnership between NATOP and Lagos State Government has brought positive changes in the tourism, travels and tours sector, among other salient issues. Charles Ajunwa brings excerpts
The National Association of Tour Operators recently unveiled the first national Secretariat in Lagos after 10 years of its existence. What’s your take?
I feel excited. In fact, this milestone is worth celebrating. First, I want to thank our National President Bolaji Mustapha, her executives and all NATOP members for bringing this to fruition. Secondly, I want to also thank the Lagos State Government through the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, for the state’s collaboration and partnership with NATOP which contributed immensely to our having an office along Opebi Oregun Link Bridge, Ikeja. Our 2026 Annual General Meeting is hosted by Lagos State for the second time. Without mincing words, Lagos has never had it this good where a Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture through hard work and focus has continued to deliver on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s core agenda for the tourism, arts and culture sector. She has truly put Lagos on the global map. The commissioner’s tireless efforts also contributed to the success of Detty December where Lagos generated an estimated economic impact of N396.54 billion (approximately $250 million) from tourism, hospitality and entertainment. Because of these achievements, today there is strong collaboration between the Lagos State Government and Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to expand and fine tune Detty December in order to generate more revenues for the state in particular and country in general.
