• Don’t believe the news he says!
Story compiled by Kingsley Abavo, Managing Editor, Benin
Amidst array of negatives about the Nigeria nation reported particularly in foreign media which gets many intending visitors scared, a group of tourists: 11 from Slovenia, and one from Croatia visited and spent about one week seeing sites of interest across six States in the country. Here we bring the tour outcome and their impression.
Happy reading!
Story compiled by Our Managing Editor, Kingsley Abavo, Benin
Leader of the tourists; Mate Hudovernik, owns a tourist agency with interest in Africa mostly West African countries. 90 percent of his clients come from Slovenia, he said.
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On this trip to Nigeria, there were 11 Slovenians and one Croatian.
It has always been his interest to visit Nigeria but had this drawback; “the reputation about the country is not the best.” Hence the visit to Nigeria is the first time.
Mate and his group spent about one week seeing tourist sites of interest in Nigeria after landing in Abuja February ending.
In Abuja, the group visited Zuma rock, national mosque, national church and some museums.
They thereafter flew from Abuja to Lagos, visited Badagry, then Abeokuta, the Capital City of Ogun State, Osogbo, the Osun State Capital, Akure, the Ondo State Capital City where they visited the Idanre Hills in Idanre community, and lastly Benin-City.
Mate revealed that in the time past, he took some Estonians who 10 years ago read the history about the Kingdom of Benin, to Nigeria’s neighbouring Republic of Benin, mistaking one for the other. But in the Republic of Benin, they discovered that they were in the wrong place.
“10 years later, I finally managed to come to the right Kingdom of Benin.”
Sites visited in Benin on arrival; the national museum, the famous ancient Benin moat, Igun Bronze enclave. Mate said but for want of time, the group would have loved to see other interesting tourist sites in Benin like the compound of Chief Priest Ebohon for example.
General impression after seeing Nigeria firsthand
“Everything we have seen is interesting and a bit different from the rest of West Africa. This is because Nigeria is a little more developed than countries like Togo and Benin and the people look a bit different.”
He observed that the “Nigerian people are super friendly, everywhere we went, the people are accommodating, they are friendly, almost everybody in Nigeria speaks English, so it is easy to communicate and we feel safe, also the food is good!”
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Continuing, he said travelling in Nigeria is not like in Europe, U.S or the Western countries; infrastructure is a bit developed, roads are being built but hotels and restaurants, are particular areas to be looked at; they need to be improved.
“Though in Lagos and Abuja you have everything. Outside these places, hotels and restaurants infrastructure needs to be put a bit upscale.”
In his estimation, comparing Lagos, Abuja to New York in the U.S, or London in England, was way too far rather, they could match Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) or Johannesburg in South Africa, and Nairobi, Kenya.
“Lagos is very similar to Nairobi and I think a lot of Africa capital cities you could compare to Lagos and Abuja.
“Abuja is more developed, better than most African countries because, it is being planned as a new city; wide streets and not a lot of traffic but Lagos; chaotic!”
Surprisingly however, Mate said his tourist group were really excited with what he termed: the ‘crazy stuff’ saying it was the identity of the real African City.
“It’s the real African City and we like African cities; the chaos, the hassle and troubles you get getting into the big cities; it is good and that’s why we come!”
Mate says the experience is different not expecting to be like you are in New York; “ln Nigeria, you go to Lagos to experience Lagos not to be without problems, you need the traffic, you need the hunky (attraction), the driving around like crazy!”
Like kind of crazy stuff? Mate was asked and in affirmation, he said; “Yes, we need them and that is why we have come to Africa to experience Africa! We don’t come to Africa to experience Europe or Western culture, we need African culture; that’s important and that’s why we have come!”
Hospitality
“I think in Nigeria the people are super friendly to us; hospitable because there is no language barrier unlike elsewhere in Africa we visited where the language is French for example, for us, it is super difficult because we don’t speak French, there is no interaction though they are also friendly.
“But here in Nigeria, it is easier to interact because they speak English comparable to East Africa and South African countries.
“In Nigeria, I think the energy of the country is good, you feel ok here, nice, you don’t feel unsafe.
“Unlike other African countries like Joburg, Cape Town in South Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa countries, the energy of the country is not as positive, you always look around, you don’t feel safe but here in Nigeria, you feel safe!
“The people are nice, nobody wants anything, we just look at ourselves and say oh white people are coming around; I think the energy is positive, very good people!”
When asked about investment opportunity he may have discovered going around and would love to explore; he mentioned infrastructure generally, talking about hotels and restaurants for him being the main thing.
Also, there should be an upgrade of investment in the tourist sites visited, Mate quipped.
“For example, at the national museum in Abuja, though there are a lot of nice things to see inside, it is stuffy and the heating is uncomfortable.
“So, general upgrade of the infrastructure is needed. Also, better hotels, internet connectivity because if I would come to invest in Nigeria, definitely, I will invest in better hotels because that is something I feel is still lacking outside Lagos and there exists a lot of opportunities.”
On their impression about the Nigeria art; Mate says in Europe, it is already being touted that Nigeria is the up coming art market of the world; and artists from Nigeria are becoming super respected in Europe. “So, we are now buying a lot of artwork from Nigeria.”
Saying his group were highly fascinated seeing the Benin artwork; the bronze at Igun, Mate held it truly holds the ace what the art represents in the culture of the people. “We are people who love African art in general, so people bought a lot of things having meaning for us. The Queen Idia mask, leopard carvings, paintings e.t.c.”
The visitors at the Benin Bronze enclave, Igun Street, Benin-City on Friday, 6 March, 2026
On the return of looted artefacts from the Benin Kingdom, Mate aptly said: “If you ask me, all should be returned because a lot of people in Europe, they just go to British museums, see all the mask there and don’t feel the need to visit this place (Benin).”
As a souvenir, members of the group bought several artworks at Igun; Benin Bronze enclave saying; the prices are relatively cheap ranging from N10,000 to N20,000 as the case maybe.
Take home message
Obviously excited, Mate exclaimed; “Don’t believe the news! I think that is the most important message.
“Never believe what the media is telling you because Nigeria is completely different from what the media tells us.
“If you listen to the media, nobody will ever come to Nigeria.
“What we take home now; Go visit Nigeria, it’s completely opposite of what the media says, it is super hospitable, it is a super safe country, nothing to worry about, I think everybody should visit Nigeria because you have a lot of hope to work for.”
David Omololu Ayeola, CEO Edufunfunds Travels, Hum and Hospitality Ltd, is the agency who packaged the tour.
(C) The Nigeria Tour guide, David Omololu Ayeola, CEO Edufunfunds Travels, Hum and Hospitality Ltd, (L), Justin Oteri, Benin based assistant tour guide, and leader of the tourists, Mate Hudovernik
He says he was proud to be the tour operator who promoted the trip; themed: ‘the northern/south-western Nigeria tour’ which spanned six States; from Abuja to Lagos, Badagry, Osogbo, Abeokuta, Akure down to Benin-City in Edo.
Particularly, his agency is interested in the preservation and promotion of heritage and culture, and as a person, David has always been in love with the Benin culture and heritage being very similar to that of the Yoruba nation.
Saying though he had always visited Benin, this is the first time the Slovenians and a Croatian is coming to this part of the world hence his agency decided to involve the Edo Tourist Agency to make it very official.
The tourists at the office of Edo State Tourist Agency, Benin on Friday, 6 March, 2026
He disclosed, that his foray into the tourist industry was a long one leaving the tech world to being an intern surviving on tips; and have spent about 15 years in the industry.
David told hilltopnationale.com; “I feel that the more the Nigeria government will put more resources into the industry, building more infrastructure around the tourist sector, the better it will become.
“Unlike Nigeria, in Slovenia, they have graded infrastructure; when it is said, it is a five star hotel so it is actually; but not so with Nigeria where it is difficult to differentiate.
“There is no hotel we go to and not one issue is found; sometime, you see mosquito, cockroach and even rat embarrassing the visitors, and in the middle of the night, the air conditioning will just shut down.
“However, the visitors are happy saying in all of these, Nigeria is still way better and ahead of most countries in Africa.
“But nevertheless, we want the Nigeria government to up the game so that the country can become the tourist hub in Africa.”
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