YTDO revs up youth tourism promotion, stages first fashion show on cruising boat

Oredola Adeola |


The Youth Tourism Development Organisation ( YTDO) has taken youth tourism promotion to another level by staging a classic and trendy fashion show on the Tarzan’s boat. Being the first in Nigeria, the fashion show is part of activities packaged to spur interest of young Nigerians into country’s tourism business.


The event which held on Sunday, December 16, was the fourth edition of the  annual boat cruise packaged by YTDO in partnership with Tarzan Marine Enterprise- owner of Tarzan Jetty, The event was attended by Hospitality and Tourism undergraduates from different institutions of higher learning across Nigeria, tourism stakeholders, tour operators and public officers.

The boat took off at Tarzan Jetty and navigated through the entire body of water which makes the Lagos Five Cowries Creek. The tourists were treated to the beautiful scenery of the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, Falomo bridge and Independent bridge and later returned to the jetty after five hours tour of the lagoon.

On the cruise was also Winner of the 2018 Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria(MBGN), Ms. Daniella Jatto; Mr. Tourism Nigeria, South West, Gbenga Olatidoye,  Anago Osho, Nigerian renowned  curator and tour guide.

Winner, 2018 MBGN, Daniella Jatto

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Mr.Abiodun Ipaye, co-founder of YTDO, disclosed that YTDO's fourth edition of the boat cruise was an improvement on previous editions. According to him, varieties including Fashion show , musical performance and games were added to the cruise to excite the tourists.

He said, “Our intention is to create an unforgettable memories for the young tourists . We want them to optimise the tourism potentials in Lagos. We went out of the our regular norm to spice the trip.  The fashion show is the first of its kind, as it has never been held on the Lagoon before in Nigeria. We are glad to have pioneered this feat.

“We strategically put youthful tourism stakeholders and operators on this trip to give more depth to the entire package. Our guests list is an evident that we mean business. Our commitment is to bring vibrancy and enthusiasm into the promotion of tourism business in Nigeria.

“As much as possible, we shall continue to expand the varieties of the tour package and would work more harder in effort to bringing major partners onboard. We shall concentrate more on the publicity and spread the content of our show on the social media in order to push tourism to the next level.

Ipaye however appealed to sponsors and the Lagos state government to partner with the YTDO, charging the government to give needed support to organisations like YTDO that are set out to reduce rate of unemployment in the country through tourism.

In her remark, MBGN 2018 Winner, Ms Daniella Jatto, commended the YTDO for the Initiative. She was however delighted for being part of cruise which she claimed is a veritable tool to getting youths involved in tourism.

Daniella further revealed that the gains in tourism can only be optimally harnessed if the tourism industry is made attractive to the youths. She said, “ I am excited seeing a fashion show on a boat cruise. It is also interesting that consideration is given to the involvement of youth in driving tourism sector."

Speaking after his presentation on harnessing Nigeria’s tourism potential, Anago Osho, a historian, disclosed that YTDO deserved a credit for focusing attention on getting the youth involved in the development of the country tourism industry. He charged the YTDO to collaborate more with other stakeholders in other to achieve its aim.

Anago Osho, making a presentation

He said, “ Having spent 20 years in the tourism industry, I am delighted that youths are now getting fully involved in tourism business. Besides, the youth should go beyond getting involved to taking tourism as a career. The tourism industry across the world is a money spinner and the highest employer of labour.”

Captain and Chef(Mrs) Emmanuel Lordsgreat, who were onboard the boat to celebrate their fifth year wedding anniversary, commended YTDO for the initiative. They however affirmed that they were fulfilled joining others onboard the boat to transverse the five cowries creek.

Captain Emmanuel who a Proprietor of Exodus Global, a tourism institute, however urged tourism operators in Nigeria to be more passionate about selling rich tourism products in the country to Nigerians. According to him, “Attention should also be given to selling tourism packages more to Nigerian youth, who have the required energy to drive the sector. If the youth have a better understanding of the country’s tourism potentials, it would be easier to project these huge resources to foreigners.

He said, “ Tourism has unlimited potentials and that’s why the youth must take advantage of these opportunity. We need more people to get involved in Nigeria’s tourism business. There are quite a lot of factors that can drive tourists into the country, what is needed is for Nigerians to development peculiar products attractive enough for tourists.


“YTDO should try and add more innovation and creativity into the tour package. They should focus more on details in order to achieve more of their aims and stakeholders should join YTDO in helping to raise the bar of the tourism sector,” Captain Emmanuel said.

Anago Osho and the NIHOTOUR officials led by Mrs Omolere

Mrs Omolere Afegbai, a staff of National institute of Hospiitality and Tourism( NIHOTOUR) Lagos Chapter , disclosed that she was delighted being part of the boat cruise. According to her, the boat cruise is a new offering in the entire tourism sector, because of the youthful energy and drive that YTDO has introduced into the boat cruise business.

“ This is not the first time of taking my club members and students on tour as a tour guide, but I am particularly excited that a fashion show can take place on the boat. This is unique because majority of people onboard the ship are youth and Nigerians. It is an evident that young Nigerians now understand what adventure and leisure tourism is all about.

“it is also interesting that the tour is packaged by young Nigerians for Nigerian youth. The focus is what the industry needed to grow. If a large percentage of the youth in the country understand the gains in the tourism industry, a lot of them would be taken off the street and the issue of unemployment would reduce substantially,” she remarked.

She however urged the Lagos state government to partner with the YTDO beyond the boat ragatta event hosted by the state. According to her this collaborative effort would help the state to promote and market it’s tourism industry. She revealed that the state has more to gain by supporting the boat cruise. She also called for more collaboration among tour operators in Nigeria as a means of harnessing the industry gain.

The boat cruise was anchored by Sherikoko, who also treated participants to a mix of comedy , fun and games. Young musicians including Wazzy, Wilson and Osheshet performed their music to excitement of the people on board the boat.

The highpoint of the cruise, was the onboard fashion show which saw models showcasing classic, elegant and trendy designs by Ticlothings, and two other designers.