About Us

The Ministry of Art, Culture, and Tourism began operations in January 2000. Formed from the Arts and Culture Department (formerly within the Ministry of Youths and Sports and Culture) and the Tourism Department (formerly within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry), this ministry has two parastatals—the Edo State Arts Council and the Edo State Tourism Board—to support policy development. The Ministry’s core mission is to preserve, protect, project, and promote the state’s rich cultural heritage while developing tourism potential to make Edo State the top tourist destination in Nigeria.

The Department of Culture champions the preservation and promotion of Edo State’s vibrant cultural heritage. This includes organizing cultural fairs, exhibitions, and festivals, and overseeing cultural agreements. The Department of Tourism promotes tourism within the state, identifying and preserving tourism sites. They serve as the essential link between the Federal Government (through the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation), the private sector, and key tourism industry stakeholders.

Our Ministry’s vision is for Edo State to become Nigeria’s leading tourist destination by 2020. Our mission is to preserve, protect, project, and promote our state’s cultural heritage, making Edo State the premier tourism choice in Nigeria.