Ambassador Reno Omokri has described Nigeria as one of Africa’s emerging tourism destinations, encouraging foreign investors and tourists to consider the country as a safe and economically promising place for investment and leisure.
Omokri made the remarks while announcing the beginning of his mission to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. According to him, the climb is aimed at projecting a more positive image of Nigeria and countering narratives that portray the country as unsafe.
He explained that his campaign would rely on facts, data and statistics to challenge what he described as negative propaganda about insecurity in Nigeria.
During the announcement, Omokri also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his reported appointment as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United Mexican States (Mexico). He dedicated the mission to the president and Nigerians, pledging loyalty and commitment to serving the country.
“This is the first day of my Mount Kilimanjaro climb, and while preparing for this journey, I received the news that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed me as the ambassador to the United Mexican States, also known as Mexico,” Omokri said.
“Mr President, I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. I promise to remain faithful, loyal and honest to Nigeria and to the custodian of the Nigerian Constitution, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Explaining the purpose of the climb, Omokri said the initiative is intended to highlight positive developments in Nigeria, particularly in areas such as tourism, security and economic growth.
He cited several major cultural and tourism events held in Nigeria in recent times as examples of the country’s ability to host large numbers of visitors without major security incidents.
According to him, the “Dirty December” celebrations in 2025 attracted about 1.2 million tourists to Lagos State, noting that none of the visitors reportedly experienced robbery, violence or other security challenges during the festivities.
He also referenced the Ojude Oba Festival in Ogun State, which he said drew about 200,000 tourists without any reported cases of violence or robbery.
In addition, Omokri mentioned the Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State earlier this year, where about 50,000 fishermen and 50,000 farmers gathered for the traditional competition before an audience of roughly 500,000 spectators.
He noted that the events were conducted peacefully, adding that such gatherings demonstrate that Nigeria is capable of hosting large-scale tourism activities safely.
Omokri further described Nigeria as politically stable, pointing out that the country currently has several former presidents and heads of state living peacefully alongside the sitting president.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s recent economic performance, stating that the country has recorded multiple cycles of economic growth and trade surpluses.
According to him, Nigeria’s economy grew by more than four percent in 2025 and is projected by international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to grow by about 4.44 percent this year.
He added that Nigeria accounted for one of the largest GDP growth contributions globally despite having about two percent of the world’s population.
Omokri also spoke about the country’s industrial capacity, saying Nigeria has the second-largest manufacturing base in Africa after Egypt.
“The gap between Nigeria and Egypt is only about five billion dollars, and at the rate our economy is growing, Nigeria could overtake Egypt in manufacturing capacity within the next five years,” he said.
He also pointed to the performance of the Nigerian stock market, noting that the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s All Share Index has grown significantly in recent years.
According to him, the market capitalisation increased from about ₦27 trillion four years ago to approximately ₦123 trillion currently.
He said the growth reflects increasing investor confidence and the expanding opportunities within the Nigerian economy.
Omokri concluded by encouraging international visitors and investors to explore opportunities in Nigeria, describing the country as secure, stable and full of economic potential.
Reno Omokri Urges Global Investors to Consider Nigeria, Begins Kilimanjaro Climb to Promote Country’s Image
