Paulos Legesse, Emirates Nigeria Country Manager welcoming welcoming the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Abuja, H.E. Salem Saeed Musabbeh Al Mahyoubi Al Shamsi.
As Nigeria rolls out its first ever “Culture Meter Index”, Emirates has been honoured with the Travel Gold Award of Excellence for Connecting Africa to the World and in recognition of its outstanding contribution to African tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.
The Award was presented at the Africa Tourism & Creative Economy Expo (AFTCREE), in partnership with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism in Abuja. There was also the formal unveiling of the “Culture Meter” which in essence is a tool to track Africa’s tourism index and progress.
The award recognises Emirates’ sustained investment in Africa’s tourism and creative sectors, driven by long-term partnerships with governments and tourism bodies
Earlier this year, the airline expanded its collaboration with several African tourism authorities, including Nigeria’s Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, to attract more international visitors and position Nigeria as a leading destination in Africa.
These partnerships support Nigeria’s broader tourism development agenda, which aims to upgrade infrastructure, expand hospitality offerings, and enhance air connectivity between Nigeria and major global markets.
Paulos Legesse, Emirates Country Manager for Nigeria who accepted the award on behalf of the airline, said: “This award reflects the trust and confidence Nigerian travellers place in Emirates. Our commitment goes far beyond operating flights — we strive to deliver a seamless, world-class travel experience at every touchpoint. From our onboard comfort to our hospitality on the ground and our extensive global network, we aim to make every journey exceptional.
“Since launching operations in Nigeria, Emirates has proudly served as a gateway between Africa and Dubai, connecting Nigerian travellers not only to the UAE but to more than 150 destinations worldwide. We remain committed to opening doors for Nigerians in business, leisure, education, and culture through unmatched connectivity and service excellence.”
The Africa Tourism & Creative Economy Expo (AFTCREE) was organised by Africultour Limited, in partnership with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, under the theme: “Optimising Africa’s Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth.”
Chuks Akamadu, CEO of Africultour Limited, applauded Emirates airline for raising the standard of international travel, championing regional tourism, and playing a pivotal role in connecting Africa to the world.
He pledged that AFTCREE will continue to provide “a unique platform for African nations to leverage their cultural and creative assets to drive trade, investment, and sustainable growth.”
Emirates is the world’s largest international airline, operating a modern fleet consisting of Airbus A380s, A350s and Boeing 777s to over 150 destinations across six continents.
In Nigeria, Emirates operates daily flights between Dubai and Lagos, providing seamless connectivity to its global network and supporting tourism, trade, and business development across Africa.
