The President of Women in Business and Tourism (WIBAT) Nigeria, Sophia Khan has said that the era of dependence on oil is fading away and that tourism is already taking its place. She made the assertion at the opening ceremony of the second edition of Abuja International Food and Beverage EXPO with the theme; “Innovative strategies for the growth of food and beverage”. The event took place at the Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre, Area 10, Garki Abuja.

 Sophia Khan said the event which was in its second year will do better and she believed that the government will embrace it because according to her food and beverage is very important in human life.

 She said that WIBAT is a Pan African organization that was founded in Ghana. The Nigeria aim according to her was established in 2019.

 She said that WIBAT is about tourism in all aspects, unlike what people think that tourism is just travel. Her words; “In WIBAT we promote agricultural tourism, food tourism, fashion tourism, transportation, entertainment.”

 She also said that WIBAT encourages small businesses to grow into big ones. She said that WIBAT is out to promote domestic tourism in Nigeria for Nigerians to travel Nigeria and Africans to travel Africa.

 She said their slogan in WIBAT is “Women on the move, changing the narrative”.

And she said that they also believe that tourism is the new oil. “Oil is fading away, tourism is coming in”, she concluded.