In a dazzling celebration of half a century of excellence, Eko Hotels & Suites, the iconic landmark on Victoria Island, hosted the inaugural Africa Legacy Summit on May 15–16, 2026, at the Eko Convention Centre. The event blended reflection on the hotel’s storied past with forward-looking dialogue on culture, tourism, hospitality, and Africa’s global economic rise. 
Opened in 1976, Eko Hotels & Suites has stood as a symbol of Nigerian and African hospitality for 50 years. With over 820 rooms across its properties, it has hosted presidents, global dignitaries, high-profile events like the AMVCA awards, and countless milestones. Once affiliated internationally, it has evolved into a proudly indigenous powerhouse, embodying resilience, luxury, and cultural pride. 
The summit, themed around “Reimagining the Future of Culture in African Hospitality, Tourism, and Travel,” drew over 5,000 expected attendees, including policymakers, hospitality executives, investors, creatives, entrepreneurs, students, and pan-African thought leaders. It featured more than a dozen keynote speakers and dynamic panel discussions. 
High-profile participants included:
• Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who delivered remarks emphasizing tourism as a key economic driver.
• Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba, the renowned Kenyan lawyer, academic, and pan-Africanist, who delivered inspiring addresses on excellence, rejecting mediocrity, and harnessing Nigeria’s and Africa’s cultural diversity for global leadership in tourism. 
• Ghassan Faddoul (Managing Director) and Danny Kioupouroglou (General Manager) of Eko Hotels, who highlighted intra-African connectivity and building “tourism giants.”
• Other voices such as Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo (Director of Sales & Marketing, Eko Hotels), Cuthbert Ncube (African Tourism Board), Amb. Wallace Williams, Jumoke Oduwole (Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment), and international figures like Yann Gilbert of Amadeus. 
Sessions explored themes like “Brand Africa: Culture as the Engine of Global Perception,” sustainable hospitality infrastructure, youth leadership, intra-African collaboration via AfCFTA, authentic storytelling, investment, and positioning Africa as a premier global destination. 
Leaders stressed converting Africa’s rich heritage, history, and cultural assets into scalable economic opportunities. Emphasis fell on stronger intra-African travel, youth empowerment through targeted programs and competitions, indigenous ownership of the tourism narrative, and infrastructure development. 
Ghassan Faddoul and others called for practical roadmaps to boost connectivity, attract investment, and develop the next generation of hospitality leaders. The summit highlighted Eko’s role not just as a hotel but as a custodian of legacy and a catalyst for continental growth. 
Attendees praised the vibrant networking, elegant atmosphere, and actionable insights. One participant noted it as “an amazing time” and congratulated Eko on its milestone. 
The Africa Legacy Summit forms part of Eko Hotels & Suites’ year-long golden jubilee, including a Legacy Gala and other initiatives. It underscores a broader commitment: Africa’s hospitality and tourism sector, powered by authentic culture and strategic collaboration, can drive prosperity, integration, and global influence. 
As Governor Sanwo-Olu and speakers affirmed, this is more than an anniversary — it marks a pivotal moment for reimagining Brand Africa. Eko Hotels & Suites, after 50 years of hosting history, now helps write its next chapter: one of excellence, innovation, and unapologetic African pride. 
The legacy continues — not just preserved, but boldly expanded.
