How we are driving growth in Nigeria’s hospitality and luxury tourism – Kechi Ibe

Kechi Ibe is a Nigerian-born entrepreneur and founder of Kahera Global, a luxury group defining the future of hospitality, travel, and real estate. A passionate advocate for sustainability and African heritage, she also leads 7:17 Analytics, focusing on carbon credit initiatives. She exemplifies the modern, purpose-driven leader, global in vision and rooted in her heritage. In this interview with KENNETH ATHEKAME, she spoke about the challenges facing Nigeria’s hospitality sector compared to other countries, how Kahera is navigating them, and her assessment of the current state of Nigeria’s hospitality and leisure industry. Excerpts:

What inspired the establishment of Kahera Country Club in Abuja, and how does it reflect your vision for Nigeria’s hospitality industry?

Kahera Country Club was born out of a deep desire to redefine what leisure and luxury can feel like in Nigeria. Abuja is a city of diplomats, creatives, and high-achieving professionals, yet it lacked a sanctuary where they can escape the chaos, recharge, and reconnect in an elevated environment. My vision has always been to build world-class hospitality ecosystems in Africa, and Kahera is a statement that Nigeria can produce destinations that rival, and even surpass, the global standard.

As Abuja’s first true luxury country club, what gap did you see in the market that Kahera seeks to fill?

There was a clear absence of curated, family-focused, members-only lifestyle spaces in Abuja that combined wellness, fine dining, and recreation under one roof. The city has restaurants, hotels, and lounges, but nothing that offers the consistent refinement, privacy, and sense of community that discerning clientele seek.

We also noticed that so many Nigerians were travelling abroad simply to access beautiful, green outdoor spaces for weddings, celebrations, and corporate retreats. Through Kahera Luxury, we’ve helped countless clients plan events internationally, and the biggest reason they chose overseas venues was the scenery. We saw that gap and became intentional about filling it locally.

Kahera Country Club was designed as a lush, landscaped sanctuary where people can host their dream weddings, birthdays, and events without ever leaving the country, showing that world-class beauty and luxury can absolutely be found here at home.

How do you define “luxury hospitality” in the Nigerian context, and how does Kahera embody that definition?

I think it’s important to challenge the notion of “luxury in the Nigerian context.” That phrasing can sound as though luxury here should be measured by a different or lower yardstick, and that’s simply not the case. Nigeria is not aspiring to luxury. Nigeria is a luxury. We are global consumers of it, and our culture naturally exudes it. From our world-class entertainment and vibrant nightlife to our art, fashion, architecture, and cuisine, Nigerians set trends and influence global luxury culture every day.

That same spirit has always driven our wider Kahera Luxury brand. For over a decade, we’ve led the way in luxury travel and concierge services, curating unforgettable experiences for high-net-worth clients across the world. Our dedication to detail, discretion, and excellence has made us number one for customer service in this space, because we understand that luxury is not just about what you offer, it’s about how you make people feel.

Kahera Country Club carries that same DNA. It is the physical embodiment of everything the Kahera brand stands for: immersive beauty, seamless service, and curated moments that reflect our belief that Nigerians deserve the world’s best, right here at home.

How would you assess the current state of Nigeria’s hospitality and leisure industry?

Nigeria’s hospitality sector is on the cusp of a renaissance. There’s been a clear shift from basic service provision to curated, experience-led offerings, and demand is rising, especially from a young, affluent demographic that travels frequently and expects international standards locally.

One of the strongest indicators of this evolution is the massive popularity of Detty December. Each year, Nigerians from the diaspora and global travellers flood into the country to experience our music, nightlife, fashion, art, and food. But most of this energy is concentrated in Lagos. We see a huge opportunity to broaden that narrative.

Destinations like Kahera Country Club offer a refreshing, elevated alternative — a serene, green retreat where people can recover, recharge, and indulge during the festive season. Imagine if airlines and travel operators built packages that encouraged visitors to explore beyond Lagos during Detty December — to discover the beauty, culture, and luxury that cities like Abuja have to offer. It would transform how the world sees Nigeria, and distribute the economic benefits of tourism more evenly across the country.

What unique challenges does the hospitality sector face in Nigeria compared to other countries, and how is Kahera navigating them?

Unstable power supply, high import costs, and limited service training are the biggest hurdles. Many operators struggle to balance operational costs with quality. At Kahera, we navigate this by investing heavily in staff development, sourcing locally wherever possible, and embedding resilience into our operations from alternative energy systems to strong vendor partnerships. We’re built for longevity.

What role can exclusive lifestyle hubs like Kahera play in positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for luxury tourism and hospitality?

Exclusive lifestyle hubs like Kahera play a vital role in reframing the narrative of Nigeria as not just a business destination but a premier lifestyle destination. They elevate the country’s brand perception, attract high-value global travellers, and inspire local operators to raise their standards.

Curated festive-season packages highlighting design-led destinations like Kahera Country Club in Abuja, the revamped Obudu Mountain Resort, visitors could experience the full spectrum of Nigeria’s beauty, culture, and luxury.

We consider ourselves cultural ambassadors. We give visitors a reason to stay longer and return, which is exactly how we build Nigeria’s reputation as West Africa’s definitive luxury tourism hub.

Kahera offers a blend of dining, wellness, leisure, and family-friendly activities. Why was this integrative approach important?

Because luxury is no longer siloed. Today’s high-net-worth individuals want holistic living; they want to wine and dine, recharge at the spa, play tennis with friends, host meetings by the pool, and watch their children explore safely, all in one environment. Kahera was designed to meet those evolving needs seamlessly.

How do you curate experiences that appeal to both high-net-worth individuals and families while maintaining exclusivity?

We focus on personalised service and programming. Our high-net-worth guests appreciate privacy and tailored attention, while families value safe, enriching environments. By controlling access through membership and reservations, we maintain intimacy while offering diverse experiences that cater to both audiences without compromise.

Can you share how wellness programs, themed nights, and curated events contribute to shaping Kahera’s brand identity?

They are the heartbeat of our brand. From Wednesday Salsa nights, Outdoor Movie Nights on Thursday, Karaoke on Fridays, and Sunday Live Band- our events transform the club into an ever-evolving cultural stage. This positions Kahera as more than a place — it’s a living, breathing lifestyle brand that celebrates sophistication, creativity, and joy.

Kahera is designed as a green sanctuary in Abuja. How intentional was sustainability in the design and operations of the club?

Extremely intentional and not just from an environmental standpoint, but also in how we designed the space to elevate Nigeria’s event and leisure landscape. From day one, we knew we wanted Kahera Country Club to be more than just a venue to become the perfect backdrop for dream weddings, milestone birthdays, and team-bonding retreats, all without needing to travel abroad.

Our Tulip and Rose Gardens, for example, are lush, blooming sanctuaries. When you stand there, surrounded by cascading flowers and mature trees, you genuinely wouldn’t know what country you were in, and that’s exactly the point. We invested heavily in greenery, landscaping, and seasonal florals because we understood what drives people to choose “destination” venues overseas.

Through our sister brand Kahera Luxury, we’ve assisted countless clients with scouting locations abroad, and the data we gathered showed that 7 out of 10 times, the primary reason they chose international venues was simply the scenery. We saw that gap and became intentional about filling it here at home, proving that Nigeria can offer equally breathtaking, world-class settings while supporting our local creative and hospitality ecosystems.

Beyond luxury, how is Kahera contributing to community building and supporting Nigeria’s creative and hospitality ecosystem?

Community building is at the heart of everything we do at Kahera Country Club. It isn’t just a venue, it’s a platform for showcasing the best of Nigeria. We deliberately collaborate with Nigerian chefs, artists, musicians, wellness practitioners, event designers, and hospitality talent, giving them a world-class stage to display their craft. We also run mentorship and training programs to help young people enter and thrive in the hospitality sector, ensuring that we’re not only creating jobs but also building the next generation of industry leaders.

And this commitment goes far beyond our gates. Through our wider Kahera Luxury brand, we are relentless about championing the Nigerian agenda globally. Whether we are attending international luxury travel conferences or consulting for tourism boards around the world, one thing is non-negotiable: whatever deals we make must always put Nigeria first.

In fact, even when we are hosting dignitaries here in Nigeria, we ensure the experience proudly reflects who we are. When the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Kitts and Nevis visited, Kahera Country Club was chosen as the official dinner venue, but we didn’t just provide a beautiful space; we curated a full cultural immersion. We showcased a Nigerian live band, traditional cultural performances, indigenous cuisine, and the breathtaking surroundings of the club.

For us, this is more than hospitality; it’s narrative-building. We believe Nigeria is the best country in the world, and it’s our responsibility to make sure the world sees that. We must control the Nigerian narrative and not let others define it for us. Kahera is our way of showing, unapologetically, that Nigerian culture and creativity belong at the very centre of the global stage.

This October, we are even hosting the official Kahera Luxury Launch Party in Houston, specifically to educate the U.S. market about Nigeria’s luxury offerings. It will be a powerful platform to shift global perception, showing that Nigeria doesn’t just participate in the luxury space; we define it.

What opportunities does the hospitality industry in Nigeria have to balance profitability with sustainability?

There’s a huge opportunity to localise supply chains from farm-to-table produce to locally crafted décor, which reduces costs while empowering communities. Energy efficiency also directly impacts profit margins. When sustainability is integrated from the design stage, it enhances both brand value and the bottom line. This is how the country club operates.

How do you see technology shaping the future of luxury hospitality in Nigeria?

Technology is redefining guest expectations. Contactless check-ins, personalised data-driven services, smart energy systems, and AI-driven concierge platforms are becoming the norm. In Nigeria, integrating these tools will allow us to leapfrog legacy gaps and deliver world-class experiences at scale.

What strategies is Kahera adopting to stay ahead of evolving customer expectations and global hospitality trends?

We stay agile and design-driven. We constantly monitor global trends, invest in staff training, and collaborate with global partners. More importantly, we listen — guest feedback shapes every evolution of Kahera. Innovation for us is not a department; it’s a culture.

Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Kahera Country Club, and what role do you hope it will play in Nigeria’s broader hospitality industry?

Our long-term vision is to build a constellation of Kahera lifestyle destinations across Africa and the diaspora, with Abuja as our flagship. We want Kahera Country Club to stand as proof that world-class luxury can be conceived, built, and sustained right here in Nigeria.

We see Kahera becoming an anchor in Nigeria’s luxury tourism circuit, especially during peak periods like Detty December, when global visitors are already flocking to Lagos. By giving travellers a reason to extend their stay and explore other states, we can help redefine how they experience the country.

That global narrative-building is why we are hosting the official Kahera Luxury Launch Party in Houston this October to introduce the U.S. market to Nigeria’s luxury offerings and showcase the calibre of experiences we create. It’s the first step in our wider strategy to position Nigeria as a world-class luxury destination on the international stage.

As part of this long-term vision, we also intend to establish a boutique airline to connect key Nigerian and African leisure destinations. Connectivity is the missing link, and if we can make it effortless for travellers to experience various states in Nigeria, and then onwards to other iconic African destinations, we can transform how the world explores the continent.

Ultimately, we hope Kahera will inspire a new era of African hospitality, one where Nigeria leads as the standard, not the exception, for luxury and lifestyle experiences.