• Edo Tourism
• Tourism Fair
• Vivian Elabor

EDO STATE INAUGURAL TOURISM FAIR IGNITES AMBITIOUS RENEWAL AND ECONOMIC REVIVAL

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  CapitalTimesNews / 15 hours
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• 3 min read

A new dawn for tourism in Edo State was declared this week as the state hosted its inaugural Tourism Product Fair. The three-day event, held from December 1st to 3rd, 2025, at the National Museum in Benin City, was organized by the Edo State Tourism Agency under Director General Lady Vivian Elabor in collaboration with the National Museum. The fair featured a vibrant display of Edo’s cultural heritage, including cultural dance performances by the Edo State Arts Council and guided tours of the National Museum led by the Curator, Dr. Mark Olaitan. Numerous vendors exhibited arts and crafts, clothing, herbal products, and a wide array of local foods, with participants such as Afrohype Artistry Limited, Anointed Star Foods, JVV Food Limited, Ritzy Foods, and Avis Foods. High-profile guests in attendance included the Honourable Commissioner for the Edo State Ministry of Business, Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Anabor; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Iryn Omorogiuwa Esq.; and the Director-General of the Edo State Diaspora Agency, Dr. Lorreta Oduware Ogboro-Okor. Also present were representatives from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, the Edo State Investment Promotion Office, the Edo State Social Investment Agency, and Chairman of the Edo Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Pastor (Hon.) Frank Omobude, among others. In her keynote address, the Director General of the Edo State Tourism Agency, Lady Vivian Elabor, framed the event as a strategic declaration. “This is more than just a fair; it is a declaration of intent, of potential, and of a new dawn for tourism in Edo State,” she stated. She extended profound gratitude to the State Governor, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his leadership and the enabling environment provided by his S.H.I.N.E. Agenda. Elabor outlined a clear mission to take Edo to the world and bring the world to Edo. She announced three core pillars of the tourism revival. First, focusing on local tourism and economic revival by empowering local artisans and vendors. “We are saying that the local artisan in Uromi, the weaver in Igarra, and the Bronze & woodcarver in Benin City are as vital to our economy as any major corporation,” she said. Second, she highlighted food tourism as an untapped goldmine. “We are launching a deliberate drive to position Edo State as the premier destination for food tourism in Nigeria. We want the world to come not only to see our bronzes but to taste our history,” Elabor announced. The third and most ambitious pillar is the launch of the Edo Tourism School Clubs Initiative. “We will go into schools and ignite in our children a fierce pride in their heritage,” she explained. “We are building a generation of brand ambassadors, future curators, hoteliers, and tourism entrepreneurs. This is our legacy investment.” The collaboration with the National Museum was underscored as a key partnership, symbolizing a union of past, present, and future. The event also featured insights from tourism experts like Mr. Edosa Eghobamien of AMENA Academy. The fair was applauded by attendees as a first-of-its-kind success, with many encouraging more such initiatives. Lady Vivian Elabor concluded with a call to action, urging all to become evangelists for the new Edo story. “Under the visionary S.H.I.E.L.D. of His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, and through the collective will of our people, we will not just shine; we will blaze a trail for the world to follow,” she said. The event has been widely hailed as the beginning of a comprehensive tourism renaissance for the state.