Stakeholders at the inaugural Heirs Insurance Travel Festival have called for simpler and fairer visa processes to boost travel within Africa and improve access for millions of Africans.
The event, held in Lagos, brought together travel lovers, diplomats, creatives, business owners, and young Nigerians who celebrated Africa’s cultural diversity while pushing for more balanced travel policies. Beyond entertainment, the festival served as a serious advocacy platform that highlighted the need to reform foreign policies, border systems, and bilateral agreements that currently limit free movement across the continent.
The festival was organised under the theme, “Promoting Cultural Diversity and an Inclusive Travel Ecosystem”. One of the major highlights was a high-level panel session titled “Passport Power and Diplomacy”. The session featured Manuel Innocencio de Lacerda Santos Junior, a Brazilian diplomat with decades of experience across four continents; José Bamóquina Zau, Angola’s Ambassador to Nigeria and former Deputy Minister; former CNN Senior Editor and CEO of SBB Media, Stephanie Busari; and was moderated by veteran broadcaster Jonathan Hanson.
During the discussion, the panellists stressed the urgent need for simpler visa processes, better border control systems, and more harmonised travel frameworks. They agreed that freer movement across African countries would unlock economic opportunities, strengthen regional cooperation, and empower young Africans.
The festival also featured a creator-led conversation titled “Where Your Nigerian Passport Can Take You”. This session was moderated by the Chief Marketing Officer of Heirs Insurance Group, Ifesinachi Okpagu. Travel creators Zim Erobu, Adenike Tejuoso, and Steven Ndukwu took part in the panel, using their personal travel experiences to advocate for a more connected and borderless Africa with fewer restrictions.
A key concern raised was the financial burden of visa processes. The creators and participants called for refunds on rejected visa applications, describing current practices as unfair and financially draining for Africans who often lose large amounts of money even when applications are denied.
Speaking at the festival, Okpagu explained that the event was created to address the challenges within Africa’s travel ecosystem. He said the goal was to make travel and migration policies fairer and more inclusive, while ensuring safety and access for everyone. According to him, the company is building platforms and partnerships that make global mobility more attainable and wants to unite travel enthusiasts under one community to improve lives.
Heirs Insurance Group said the festival marked a major step in deepening discussions around Africa’s travel barriers. The company also described the event as part of its broader strategy to combine experiential engagement, innovation, and social impact.
Heirs Insurance Group is the insurance business of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment company with operations in 24 countries across Africa and beyond.
