Keji Giwa makes case for private investment in Nigeria’s tourism

Nigerian entrepreneur Keji Giwa, founder of Giwa Gardens Water Park and Digital Landlords, has presented a roadmap for Nigeria's $100 billion tourism industry on CNBC Africa's Power Lunch West Africa. Giwa emphasized the significance of private-sector investment, infrastructure development and diaspora capital mobilization in unlocking the country's tourism potential.

The Nigerian Ministry of Tourism recently launched a 100-day tourism calendar to coordinate festivals, concerts, cultural events and other experiences across the nation, with the goal of improving visibility and attracting visitors, private investment and economic growth. Giwa's vision extends beyond promoting events and aims to develop the necessary physical infrastructure and investment structures to turn tourism demand into long-term economic value.

He stressed the need for government and private investors to work together to improve access roads, electricity, water supplies, transportation networks and other essential public infrastructure, which currently impose additional costs on private tourism assets. Giwa's strategy also includes mobilizing organised diaspora capital into Nigerian tourism assets, with Digital Landlords developing real estate, hospitality and recreational infrastructure projects such as Giwa Gardens Water Park and The Carnelian.

He believes that Nigerians living abroad can play a crucial role in financing the next generation of tourism destinations and hospitality facilities.