Young entrepreneurs, tourism stakeholders and hospitality leaders took centre stage on the second day of the Africa Legacy Summit 2026 as discussions focused on how innovation, mentorship and youth-driven ideas can accelerate Africa’s tourism growth and economic transformation.
The summit, which held from May 15 – 16, as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Eko Hotels and Suites, featured keynote addresses, panel discussions and an innovation challenge centred on repositioning tourism as a driver of jobs, investment and continental development.
Opening the day’s sessions, Marvellous Dada, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Mentorship for Development (TMD) Foundation, highlighted the organisation’s expansion across 26 Nigerian universities, reaching more than 6,000 young people through mentorship and practical industry exposure. He stressed the importance of equipping young Africans with practical skills to transform the continent’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
The day’s keynote address was delivered by Danny Kioupouroglou, General Manager of Eko Hotels, who spoke on leadership, destination branding and Africa’s global perception. “Legacy is not built by perfection but by consistency,” he told participants, urging young people to focus on discipline, systems and long-term impact rather than appearances and titles.
He noted that tourism is deeply tied to perception and that Africa must improve destination branding, infrastructure and policy consistency to compete globally. “Nigeria is globally famous, but it is not globally packaged as a tourist destination,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with Greece, Thailand and Dubai, Kioupouroglou called for Nigeria to consistently market its music, fashion, festivals, hospitality and business opportunities under one coordinated tourism identity. Kioupoureglou also identified restrictive visa systems and insecurity as major obstacles limiting tourism growth and continental integration.
Kenyan lawyer and Pan-Africanist Patrick Lumumba then challenged Nigerian youth to rediscover and promote their country through digital storytelling, culture and tourism. “Do young Nigerians truly know Nigeria?” he asked, encouraging young Africans to use technology and storytelling to showcase the continent’s heritage and tourism potential.
Lagos State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, reiterated calls to position tourism as an economic strategy rather than seasonal entertainment. She referenced the popularity of “Detty December” celebrations while stressing the need to build an all-year-round tourism economy.
Panel discussions extended the conversation to infrastructure connectivity, youth inclusion and freer movement across African borders, with stakeholders calling for stronger collaboration within the tourism ecosystem.
The summit also recognised outstanding young innovators and students through awards and mentorship initiatives organised by the TMD Foundation in partnership with Eko Hotels.
A significant announcement came from Nigerian agripreneur Moji Davids, co-founder of Xtralarge Farms and Resorts, who pledged mentorship opportunities in agri-tourism for 1,000 students within the TMD network.
The day concluded with the Legacy Visionary Challenge, a competition showcasing technology-driven tourism solutions developed by young Africans.
Three finalists presented innovation concepts centred on digital and immersive tourism experiences. Adebayo Oluwabusayomi emerged as the overall winner with “Eko Roots: When Luxury Meets Lagos,” a QR-powered community cultural experience catalogue designed to help tourists discover and preview destinations before visiting them in person.
Lawson Akinola placed second place with “The Eko-Canvas Experience,” a proposal aimed at transforming Eko Hotels into Africa’s first interactive mixed-reality tourism destination. Dorcas Olabode came third with AccessTour XR, an initiative designed to make tourism experiences accessible before physical visits, particularly for persons living with disabilities.
The summit’s organisers said the event reflects a growing shift from policy conversations to practical initiatives focused on mentorship, innovation and youth-driven leadership within Africa’s tourism sector.
