Policymakers, investors and tourism stakeholders have intensified calls to reposition tourism as one of Africa’s most promising economic frontiers.
That was the driving consensus on Friday at the Africa Legacy Summit 2026, held at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos, as the summit entered its second and final day.
Held as part of the hotel’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the summit brought together delegates from across Africa and the Caribbean to discuss how the continent can transform its tourism potential into measurable economic growth, stronger infrastructural connectivity, and increased youth participation in tourism and hospitality.
With the theme “Reimagining the Future of Culture in African Hospitality, Tourism, and Travel,” the summit (May 15–16, 2026) showcased African heritage while highlighting the role of culture and hospitality in shaping the continent’s economic future.
Director of Sales and Marketing at Eko Hotels, Iyadunni Gbadebo, set the tone on the opening day with her welcome remarks, affirming the summit’s strategic focus and its importance to the growth of tourism and culture in Africa.
Highlighting the significance of the Legacy summit to Lagos and the continent, Gbadebo described the event as “not just another conference for basic ideas, but an event where history will take attendance,” framing tourism as more than leisure and positioning it as a tool for economic development.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu echoed that point in his opening address, stating that the summit marks “not just the anniversary of a hotel, but 50 years of Lagos welcoming the world.” He highlighted Lagos as home to Nollywood, the world’s second-largest film industry, and the headquarters of Africa’s fintech and creative enterprises.
“Tourism is not a soft structure,” he said. “It’s a hard economy that creates job opportunities that cannot be exported.”
“In Lagos, we remain focused on the future of culture in African hospitality and travel, and on the important role these sectors continue to play in positioning our state as a leading destination on the continent.”
Chairman of the Board of Eko Hotels and a member of the Chagoury Group, Christopher Chagoury, emphasised the importance of Africans preserving their culture against the diluting pressures of globalisation, a point that aligned with Prof. Patrick Lumumba’s reflections on identity and history.
In his keynote address, Pan-Africanist and diplomat, Amb. Wallace Williams, speaking on “Brand Africa: Culture as the Engine of Global Perception,” pointed to Eko Hotels as proof of Africa’s capacity to sustain world-class businesses of excellence.
He further noted that the conversation was unfolding at a critical time. Despite Africa’s vast natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and young, connected population, the continent still attracts only a modest share of global tourist arrivals. Industry stakeholders attributed this largely to infrastructure deficits, fragmented visa regimes, inconsistent destination branding and security concerns.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, reinforced the economic framing, warning against treating tourism as mere entertainment. She referenced the popularity of the “Detty December” celebrations while stressing the need to develop tourism into an all-year-round sector rather than a seasonal attraction.
Panel sessions extended the conversation to youth inclusion, infrastructure connectivity, and the push for freer movement across African borders. The summit has been shifting focus from rhetoric to practical solutions: attracting international investment, raising hospitality standards, and building stronger links between African destinations and global travel networks.
The theme of collaboration ran strongly through the day’s discussions. Danny Kioupoureglou emphasised the limitations of individual capacity and urged stakeholders to “see beyond competition” by working together.
The Regional Integration Coordinator, Nigeria Country Department, African Development Bank, Ometere Omoluabi-Davis, highlighted the importance of making Africa “home for us, and welcoming for others.”
For Lagos and Nigeria, hosting the summit reinforces the city’s role as a gateway to West Africa and a hub for the continent’s tourism development. With economic diversification high on Africa’s agenda, and a deliberate push to tell its own story on the world stage, the outcomes of these conversations could shape how the continent positions itself in the global travel market for years to come.
