By: Manoah Kikekon
Lagos, Nigeria – The tourism landscape in South West Nigeria is poised for a historic celebration as the organizing committee for the inaugural South West International Tourism Expo 2025 prepares to unveil the categories and open nominations for the prestigious South West Tourism Icon Awards this coming Monday.
The announcement, made by Hon. Apata Samson Nunayon, National Vice President of the ATPN South West Region, has sent waves of anticipation through the industry, marking a significant milestone in recognizing excellence in the sector.
The much-anticipated reveal on Monday, October 13th, will detail the various categories for the Icon Awards, designed to honour the trailblazers, innovators, and custodians of the region's rich heritage. This initiative aims to cast a spotlight on the individuals and organizations whose relentless efforts have shaped the tourism narrative of the South West.
From hospitality giants and tour operators to cultural ambassadors and community advocates, the awards seek to celebrate the full spectrum of talent and dedication that drives the region's tourism economy forward, inviting the public and industry stakeholders to participate in the nomination process.
Scheduled for December 5th and 6th, 2025, at the prestigious Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, the expo itself is built on the powerful theme: “Exploring the Power of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) in Driving Grassroots Development Through Strategic Collaboration.”
This theme underscores a strategic shift towards sustainable tourism that directly benefits local communities. By emphasizing Community-Based Tourism, the expo aims to foster partnerships that empower grassroots initiatives, ensuring that tourism growth translates into tangible economic and social development for the people at the heart of the region's tourist attractions.
Apata, in his address, emphasized that the awards and the expo are integral parts of a broader mission to promote the South West's unique cultural and natural endowments. "The South West Tourism Icon Awards aim to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions to the tourism industry," he stated.
Reinforcing that this is a pivotal step towards fostering regional economic growth. The expo is expected to serve as a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and showcasing the immense, and often untapped, tourism potentials of the region to a global audience.