On a warm Sunday in Miami, the scent of luxury hung in the air as Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, better known as Davido, held his long-awaited white wedding to Chioma Rowland Adeleke.
The celebration was dripping with glamour - from the bride’s radiant gown to the $300,000 Richard Mille watch Davido presented to her, his second such gift. The event was, in every sense, a grand finale to a love story that has spanned more than a decade.
The guest list could have sold out any Nigerian venue: billionaire Aliko Dangote, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, nightlife magnate Obi Cubana, and music stars like Adekunle Gold, Teni, Zlatan Ibile and D’banj. International celebrities Kirk Franklin and Shenseea added extra sparkle.
Davido, visibly moved, told Chioma: “I have been on many stages, but this is the most nervous I have ever been. You are my love, my peace, my home… You saw the real me, the me the world doesn’t see, and you still chose me.”
The Miami spectacle, which reportedly cost $3.7 million, was the culmination of a journey that included a traditional wedding in Lagos in 2024 and a court ceremony in 2023. But for Nigeria’s struggling tourism sector, it was also a reminder of what was lost.
Another wedding in Iceland
While Davido’s nuptials played out in the tropics, another Nigerian celebrity wedding was taking place thousands of miles away in the Nordic chill. Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, popularly known as Mr Eazi, married actress Temi Otedola, daughter of oil magnate Femi Otedola, in a private ceremony in Reykjavík, Iceland.
The iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church was shut to the public and filled with flowers as close family and friends, including Dangote and DJ Cuppy, looked on. Comedian Broda Shaggi shared clips of the intimate gathering.
For the Icelandic capital, it was a glamorous moment. For Nigeria, it was another high-profile event — with the power to attract foreign guests, fill hotels, and promote its destinations — that slipped away.
From medicine to matrimony
These weddings are part of a growing trend: Nigeria’s elite increasingly opt for foreign locations not only for healthcare and education but also for life’s biggest celebrations. Industry watchers say this is about more than prestige — it’s about security, reliable infrastructure, privacy, and service quality.
The cost is enormous. Tourism already contributes less than 5% to Nigeria’s GDP, far behind countries like Kenya and South Africa, where it accounts for over 10%. Events like Davido’s Miami celebration could have injected over ₦2.5 billion directly into Nigeria’s economy through hotels, catering, transport, and event services, with even more from the spending of foreign guests.
Mr Eazi’s smaller wedding, held at a unique Nigerian location, could also have generated valuable publicity and encouraged other wealthy Africans to consider Nigeria for luxury events.
What’s at stake
Without marquee celebrations at home, Nigeria misses the chance to showcase itself as a safe, glamorous, service-oriented destination. In the age of Instagram and viral content, where a single celebrity wedding can turn an unknown venue into a global talking point, location matters.
South Africa proved this in 2018, when Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s performance at the Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg drew thousands of foreign visitors. Kenya has hosted Indian billionaire weddings that doubled as global marketing campaigns for its safari resorts.
Nigeria has the potential to do the same — with Obudu Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, Ilashe Beach, and Tinapa Resort waiting for revival. Experts say that with public-private investment, improved security, and targeted incentives for high-profile events, the tide could turn.
Until then, the world will keep watching Nigerian superstars paint foreign cities red — and the millions in tourism revenue will keep flowing out instead of in.
Leave a Reply