Obasanjo urges action on African aviation, tourism, says connectivity can’t thrive in vacuum

• Wright: “Our challenge is not creating attractions, but attracting people to the attractions

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has outlined the clear chain reaction required for sustainable industry growth, saying that for aviation to fly, there must be passengers,” Obasanjo said.

“For passengers to be available, there must be prosperity. For prosperity to exist, there must be a thriving economy. For a thriving economy to be there, there must be good governance.”

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the AeroWest Summit 2026 in Lagos, Obasanjo argued that connectivity cannot thrive in a vacuum.

Addressing the summit’s theme—Financing Connectivity: Unlocking Aviation and Tourism Growth in West and Central Africa- Obasanjo emphasised that Africa’s core issue is not a total absence of infrastructure or assets, but a failure to preserve, package, and appreciate the value already present on the continent.

“Aviation and tourism are two sides of the same coin and must complement each other through intentional cross-sector partnerships. Capacity building must extend beyond industry professionals to local communities, teaching proper hospitality, product packaging, and visitor engagement. African nations must actively conserve their natural, cultural, and historical heritage to make these destinations viable for international markets. Industry leaders must build meaningful connections between visitors, local communities, and regional cultures.”

Refusing to let the gathering be a one-off talk shop, Obasanjo charged the organisers to ensure continuity: “This summit is the beginning, and it should not be the end. We must get it right.”

Above all, Obasanjo made it clear that he had no patience for another routine gathering that would end in empty communiqués.

Refusing to let the event dissolve into a one-off talk shop, he charged the organisers with a strict mandate of long-term continuity.

“This summit is the beginning, and it should not be the end,” he warned the delegates. “We must get it right.”

That urgent call to action was picked up directly by the Summit Convener and CEO of the West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO), Ola Wright.

Expanding on the former president’s diagnosis, Wright observed that Africa has never lacked breathtaking world-class destinations or captivating cultural stories.

Rather, the continent has been held back by decades of chronic underinvestment and wildly fragmented transit networks that make travelling between neighbouring nations a frustrating ordeal.

Wright noted that Africa has never lacked world-class destinations or compelling stories, but has long suffered from poor investment and fragmented transit networks.

“Our challenge is not simply creating attractions, but attracting people to the attractions we have already created,” Wright told the assembly. “The future of Africa’s tourism will be determined by connectivity, investments, and business integration.”

“Our challenge is not simply creating attractions, but attracting people to the attractions we have already created,” Wright stated. “The future of Africa’s tourism will be determined by connectivity, investments, and business integration.”

The three-day AeroWest Summit in Lagos gathers aviation operators, tourism stakeholders, and government delegates from West Africa, Central Africa, and the Caribbean to chart a concrete roadmap for regional integration. The event concludes on Friday, September 4, 2026.

Wole Shadare