Diaspora Urged to Transform Festive Visits into Strategic Investments During Detty December

The President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Femi Fadina, has called on Nigerians living abroad to leverage their annual festive homecomings as strategic opportunities for investment in the nation’s creative and cultural sectors.

Speaking in Lagos ahead of the 2025 Detty December celebrations, Fadina stressed that the diaspora’s visits should go beyond leisure and entertainment, urging Nigerians abroad to actively participate in building Nigeria’s creative economy.

“Every concert, cultural event, and curated experience during this festive season should not only celebrate our heritage but also serve as a conversion point for investment engagement,” Fadina said. He highlighted that Detty December presents an unparalleled opportunity to transform temporary festive spending into long-term economic impact.

Citing data from the 2024 festive season, Fadina revealed that Detty December generated approximately N1.5 trillion in domestic spending across hospitality, logistics, nightlife, and entertainment. Yet, he noted that less than 10 per cent of these funds were reinvested into creative infrastructure, tourism development, or cultural enterprises.

“While diaspora spending on family support, entertainment, and short-term consumption is significant, the focus must shift toward directing these funds into development capital that sustains creative growth,” Fadina explained. “The challenge is not the volume of spending, it’s the direction.”

To promote this agenda, ATPN has unveiled a robust calendar of events for the 2025 festive season, including:

• Creative Capital Week, designed to connect investors with Nigerian creative startups and cultural enterprises.

• EWA Experience Series, showcasing Nigeria’s arts, music, and culinary culture to diaspora visitors.

• Cultural Economy Roundtable, aimed at assessing the economic impact of the festive season and facilitating investment discussions.

Fadina emphasized that a change in mindset is crucial for realizing the full potential of Detty December. He called on Nigerians abroad to see their homecomings as a chance to convert cultural engagement into sustainable development.

“Detty December is no longer just a party; it is a platform for prosperity. We must move from consumerism to capital formation, from temporary spectacle to sustainable structure, and from cultural excitement to cultural enterprise. Fun must now fund the future,” Fadina concluded.

The 2025 Detty December promises a strategic alignment of culture, entertainment, and investment, marking a shift toward maximizing diaspora contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.

(NAN)