By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Jands Travel Business School (JTBS), Enugu, Chief Ben Etiaba, has disclosed that the 2025 edition of the school’s annual domestic tourism conference will be held in Enugu from September 5-6.
Chief Etiaba, who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the inauguration of the committee ahead of the conference, said that the idea of the event is to promote tourism in the South-East geo-political zone and Nigeria at large.
“The conference, coming up in September, will be a huge success, bigger than that of last year,” he stated.
Also speaking, Pro- Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of University of Jos (UNIJOS), Monsignor (Professor) Obiora Ike, who is also a Professor of Ethics and Intercultural Studies at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu and the Jands BoT Advisor, said that the conference is in line with Jands’ efforts to reposition tourism as a tool for economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and youth development.
Monsignor Ike, who is also the founder of the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), inaugurated the conference committee, at Ofu Obi Africa Centre, Enugu.
Earlier, Director, Jands Travel Business School, Mrs. Chioma Obi, briefed he BoT members on the planning and progress made so far for the conference.
Mrs Obi noted that the highly anticipated event will bring together key stakeholders from across Nigeria and beyond, to engage in conversations and actions that deepen the appreciation, investment and structure of domestic tourism in the country.
She disclosed that the theme of this year’s conference is ‘The Future of Domestic Tourism in Nigeria: Celebrating Our Arts and Culture’, stressing that it was chosen to focus on deepening cultural tourism and positioning Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage and local experiences as core drivers of travel and entrepreneurship across communities.
According to her, “Objectives of the 2025 conference are to promote domestic tourism as a sustainable economic driver for youth and women as well as provide a platform for policy engagement, creative industry synergy, and destination branding.”
Others, she stated, are to showcase cultural assets, indigenous cuisines, and creative expressions from across Nigeria.
She added that it also seeks “to provide industry-focused training and masterclasses for emerging tourism entrepreneurs; to encourage investment in local tourism ventures through partnerships and exposure.”
Mrs Obi disclosed that among key speakers and top dignitaries expected at the event are: Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State; successful entrepreneur and presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 poll, Mr. Peter Obi; Chief Etiaba; Monsignor Ike; Chairman Calabar Carnival, Dr Gabe Onah; Retired Director/ Pioneer Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Asaba, Dame Elizabeth Oyibo Agu; Secretary General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Engr. Emeka Sibeudu.
Also expected are a host of firebrand panelists and masterclass speakers.
“We are confident that the 2025 edition of the Domestic Tourism Conference will elevate the brand and impact of JTBS, reinforce its leadership in tourism education, and catalyze opportunities for youth, culture, and regional growth”, she said.
The JTBS Director also reviewed the 2024 Domestic Tourism Conference, which theme was: ‘Exploring Synergies to Boost Business and Entrepreneurship through Domestic Tourism’.
She recalled that the conference, which was held at ECCIMA Secretariat in Enugu, was a groundbreaking success.
“Over 300 participants, including tour operators, travel consultants, students, creatives, and policymakers were in attendance. There were panel sessions, a Palmwine Tasting Competition, Local Cuisine Display, and a guided tour of Enugu. We had collaborators NANTA, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, and several local brands.
“The conference sparked interest in community tourism development and inspired 15 + new tour startup ideas. It also created a good measure of awareness for Jands Travel Business School. This set the stage for a bigger and more impactful 2025 edition, “she remarked.
On Jands Travel Business School, Mrs Obi recalled that it was conceived out of a long-standing vision to bridge the professional knowledge gap in Nigeria’s fast-growing but under-skilled travel, tourism, and hospitality sector.
Her words: “Officially launched in 2023, the school began as a series of training sessions and short-term programs offered to aspiring travel consultants and tour operators in Enugu and its environs.
“Our work gained momentum during the post-COVID tourism recovery period, where we provided accessible training for both start-ups and existing practitioners eager to realign with international best practices and ethics of the profession. From then until now, the school has gradually evolved into a recognized capacity-building hub for tourism entrepreneurship, travel agency operations, digital tourism marketing, and destination management.”
