Ikpeazu presents credentials as Nigeria’s permanent representative to UN Tourism
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has presented his Letters of Commission to Shaikha Al Nowais, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism), formally accrediting him as the country’s Permanent Representative to the organisation.
The presentation took place on Friday, November 13, at the UN Tourism headquarters in Madrid, Spain.
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Senior Counsellor at the Nigerian Embassy in Spain, accompanied Ikpeazu.
During a post-ceremony meeting, Al Nowais commended Nigeria’s active participation in UN Tourism’s activities and expressed her readiness to work with the Nigerian envoy to strengthen relations between the two parties.
In his remarks, Ikpeazu conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill to the Secretary-General and highlighted Nigeria’s tourism potential, citing its cultural diversity, music industry, Nollywood and colourful festivals.
He also drew attention to seasonal events such as the Detty December festivities, which he said continue to attract visitors from different parts of the world.
As Nigeria’s Permanent Representative, Ikpeazu is expected to promote the country’s tourism development priorities, strengthen partnerships with member states and attract investment and technical cooperation through the organisation.
His appointment is also expected to support the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda, which identifies tourism and the creative industries as important sectors for economic growth, employment generation and cultural diplomacy.
Al Nowais, who received the Nigerian envoy’s credentials, is the first woman to lead UN Tourism in the organisation’s 50-year history.
