The Visit Nigeria Initiative has appointed renowned strategist and author, Charmaine Hayden, as its first Brand Ambassador to spearhead a new era of tourism and investment in the country.
Speaking shortly after her appointment, Hayden said the project was about more than visibility.
“It’s about building the infrastructure — mental, cultural, and economic — that enables people to invest in, identify with, and believe in Nigeria’s future.
“We are creating the pathways for meaningful investment and partnership.”
The initiative, officially launched at a private event, unveiled a national movement aimed at repositioning Nigeria on the global stage.
Backed by the Federal Government, the Visit Nigeria Initiative is a strategic national project designed to shift global perceptions and promote Nigeria’s identity as a land of culture, innovation, and opportunity.
According to the founder and project director, Iyad Ghraizi, the vision extends beyond tourism.
“Nigeria’s story is one of courage, creativity, and unstoppable potential. The Visit Nigeria Initiative is our formal invitation for the world to experience that firsthand,” Ghraizi said.
The project rests on four core pillars: reshaping global perception, engaging the diaspora and investors, promoting tourism and heritage, and launching a one-stop digital platform for travel and investment services.
To drive the campaign, two ambassadors were named — Charmaine Hayden, who will lead economic strategy, and Enoch Hyelaparda Danbaba, a commercial pilot and Pan-African advocate known for his #ChangingTheNarrative campaign.
Danbaba, Nigeria’s first National Youth Ambassador to South Africa, said the time had come for Nigerians to tell their own story.
“Our narrative has been written by others for too long,” he said.
“Visit Nigeria is the platform through which we’ll showcase our authenticity, beauty, and spirit to the world.”
With the launch, Nigeria signals a firm commitment to reclaiming its narrative and positioning itself as a leading destination for tourism, culture, commerce, and investment.