By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The World Agritourism Organisation (WAO) has urged the Federal Government to integrate Agritourism into Nigeria’s 10-Year Agrifood System Strategy (2026–2035) under the African Union’s Kampala Agrifood Declaration, saying the move would boost food security, create jobs and drive sustainable economic growth.
The organisation said adopting Agritourism as a national development strategy would diversify the economy, strengthen rural communities and position Nigeria as Africa’s leading destination for Agritourism investment and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, WAO President and Global Lead Advocate of the United Nations World Agritourism Organisation (UNWAO) Advocacy Initiative, Amb. Arc. Trust Henry Ogboi, commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for supporting the Agritourism initiative since 2017.
He also praised the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for inaugurating the World Agritourism Organisation in 2023, noting that government support had laid a strong foundation for the growth of the sector in Nigeria.
Ogboi explained that Agritourism combines agriculture, tourism, investment, education, culture and environmental sustainability into one economic ecosystem capable of creating multiple sources of income for farmers while promoting inclusive national development.
According to him, the organisation has initiated several flagship programmes, including the annual World Agritourism Day to be observed every May 16, the proposed UNWAO Advocacy Initiative, the World Agritourism Centre and the Nigerian Agritourism Village Project Initiative across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the initiative would increase farmers’ incomes, create sustainable employment, reduce rural-urban migration, improve rural infrastructure, empower women and youths, preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage and strengthen food security.
The WAO president added that Agritourism would also diversify Nigeria’s economy by promoting agricultural value addition, encouraging domestic tourism, attracting Public-Private Partnership investments, increasing government revenue and expanding agricultural exports.
Ogboi further stated that the initiative would position Nigeria as Africa’s leading Agritourism destination, attract foreign direct investment, strengthen international cooperation, promote climate-smart agriculture and create new markets for Nigerian agricultural products.
The organisation also highlighted the benefits for young people, saying Agritourism would generate employment, promote entrepreneurship, develop technical and vocational skills, stimulate innovation and help reduce poverty and unemployment.
WAO called on the Federal Government to adopt Agritourism as a strategic national development sector by integrating it into Nigeria’s agricultural and tourism policy framework, while urging the Federal Executive Council to approve it as a complementary strategy under the country’s Agrifood agenda.
The organisation said the proposal aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting employment, poverty reduction, food security, rural transformation and economic diversification, adding that its adoption would reinforce Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s Agrifood transformation.
