Ipada Initiative Launched To Strengthen Ties With African Diaspora To Add New Boost Tourism In Nigeria

Monday, August 4, 2025

The ‘Ipada’ initiative, which is an eager move aimed astatine reconnecting Africa pinch its diaspora, has been popularly endorsed by leaders successful some nan nationalist and backstage sectors. According to nan News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ipada, a Yoruba connection that translates arsenic “return,” is group to heighten nan relationship betwixt Africa and its world diaspora done tourism and civilization exchange.

Targeting Afro-descendants arsenic good arsenic world Afro-fans, nan task is placing Lagos astatine nan bosom of gateways to Africa’s immense and latent tourism potential. It hopes to adjacent nan spread betwixt nan African diaspora and their African practice by presenting them pinch an immersive back-to-the-motherland acquisition connected nan continent.

A Visionary Effort to Engage nan Diaspora

In 2024, President Bola Tinubu was appointed Global Brand Ambassador and Grand Patron of nan Motherland Beckons Ipada Initiative, a strategical business betwixt nan authorities and private assemblage stakeholders. This collaboration intends to bolster Africa’s tourism economy and reconnect nan diaspora pinch their practice done tourism.

During nan unveiling of nan Ipada Five-Year Programme astatine nan Banquet Hall of nan State House successful Abuja, Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, laminitis of nan La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, described nan inaugural arsenic a cultural homecoming for Africans abroad. He emphasized nan value of showcasing Africa’s divers tourism offerings from each 55 African countries, positioning it arsenic a world destination for travelers.

The Five-Year Programme

The Ipada Programme will dedicate 10 days annually, from late November to early December, for diaspora Africans to return and reconnect pinch their roots. Akinboboye remarked, “It’s clip to move from enslaved ships to cruise ships,” highlighting nan improvement of African recreation from its achy past to a early of exploration and taste appreciation.

The La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort successful Lagos will service arsenic nan flagship destination for nan initiative, providing a vibrant taste acquisition that encourages travelers to research some Nigerian practice and nan broader African continent. As Akinboboye noted, nan edifice will enactment arsenic a launchpad for diaspora Africans to prosecute pinch Africa’s history, culture, and earthy beauty.

Economic Impact and Support

The Ipada Initiative holds nan imaginable to importantly lend to Nigeria’s economical growth by driving tourism, creating job opportunities, and stimulating local economies. Dr. Jani Ibrahim, President of nan Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), affirmed that nan initiative’s semipermanent effect would foster some taste speech and economical prosperity.

The arena besides featured notable attendees, including representatives from nan governments of Taraba and Katsina and officials from NACCIMA, who voiced their support for nan programme and its imaginable to reshape nan African tourism landscape.

Nigeria Pushing guardant for affirmative Tourism maturation successful Africa

The Ipada task is simply a visionary and eager move towards reviving Africa’s tourism manufacture and reconnecting nan diaspora to their roots. Nigeria’s ‘Ipada’ inaugural seeks to link nan African diaspora pinch their roots, driving tourism and taste engagement crossed Africa pinch Lagos arsenic nan cardinal gateway. Moreover, by this Lagos starring nan charge, Nigeria will reap nan rewards of a tourism and economical boom, pinch nan Ipada Programme utilized arsenic a template for consequent taste tourism projects connected nan continent. As nan task unfolds, it has nan imaginable to time off visitors pinch lasting memories, and spurring maturation arsenic good arsenic enhancing relations betwixt Africa and its diaspora astir nan World.