The South-South Zone of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) is set to inaugurate its new Executive Council on November 17, 2025, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to a statement by Mrs Faith Esohe Essien, FTAN Vice President, South-South, the event will mark the beginning of fully fledged activities by the Federation in the region. This follows the recent assumption of office by the Federation’s new national Executive Council, led by Dr Aliyu Badaki as National President.
Essien stated that the inauguration represents “the official commencement of a focused, regional drive to transform our sector, positioning tourism as a strategic solution to some of the region’s long-standing economic challenges.”
The event will hold under the theme, “GREEN HORIZONS: Unlocking the South-South’s Natural Wealth for Inclusive and Sustainable Prosperity.”
She added that the theme “is not merely ceremonial; it represents a policy commitment to use tourism to drive economic diversification, advocate for responsible coastal conservation, and elevate our cultural assets as sustainable alternatives to resource dependency.”
The inauguration ceremony, scheduled to take place at Ogeyi’s Place, GRA, Port Harcourt, will attract tourism stakeholders, government officials, and members of the travelling public from across the South-South states — Edo, Delta, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa — as well as other parts of Nigeria.
FTAN National President, Dr Aliyu Badaki, is expected to lead other national officers of the Federation to the event, underscoring the importance of the occasion for the growth and integration of tourism development across the country.
