Ekiti State has been selected to host the 5th Ministerial Meeting and 6th Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Developing-8 (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation from October 28 to 30, 2026.
The international gathering will take place at the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, one of Nigeria’s prominent natural tourism destinations, further raising Ekiti’s profile as an emerging centre for international conferences, tourism and investment.
The development represents another milestone for the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, whose efforts in infrastructure development, security, tourism promotion and investment attraction have continued to draw attention to the state.
The Federal Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has reportedly begun official engagements with the Ekiti State Government and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the successful hosting of the event.
The meeting is expected to attract ministers, senior government officials and delegates from nine D-8 member countries, including Nigeria, Türkiye, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran and Azerbaijan.
As part of the activities lined up for the event, organisers are planning a tourism exhibition and guided excursions to showcase Ekiti’s cultural heritage, natural attractions, indigenous cuisine and investment opportunities.
The selection of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort is also expected to strengthen the state’s growing reputation in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.
Industry observers have described the development as a positive endorsement of Ekiti’s tourism potential and efforts by the Oyebanji administration to promote the state as a peaceful, hospitable and business-friendly destination.
The state government has continued to invest in road infrastructure, security coordination and tourism development. The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport has also been identified as an important component of the state’s development and connectivity plans.
The commencement of commercial flight operations at the airport in December 2025 has further improved Ekiti’s prospects for attracting business travellers, investors and international visitors.
Ekiti has also received national recognition for its tourism development efforts, emerging as Nigeria’s Most Active Tourism State for three consecutive years, according to the report.
For the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, headed by Wale Ojo-Lanre, the forthcoming meeting provides an opportunity to present the state’s tourism assets to an influential international audience and advance the government’s ambition to make tourism a significant contributor to economic growth.
Beyond the international recognition associated with hosting the event, the meeting is expected to create business opportunities for hotels, transport operators, cultural performers, food vendors and other players in the hospitality and tourism industries.
The gathering could also encourage new investment partnerships, strengthen international cooperation and provide opportunities to market Ekiti as a destination for leisure, business and conferences.
Although the Federal Government has not publicly stated the specific reasons behind the selection of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, the event offers Ekiti an opportunity to demonstrate its readiness to host major international engagements.
With the meeting approaching, expectations are rising that the gathering will boost tourism, stimulate local economic activities and strengthen Ekiti’s visibility within the international community.
The event also aligns with the state’s broader ambition to move beyond being a destination for leisure visitors and establish itself as a hub for international meetings, investment and business development.
