Do you know Nigeria's iconic Seven Sites?

Meet those that drove the discovery of Nigeria’s Most Wonderful Seven Sites’

It was a moment of well-earned chest-thumping last Thursday, 5 July, 2012; at Planet One in Maryland, Lagos for people that drove the search for Nigeria’s must-see seven sites; when the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) presented certificates of award to each member of the Project Naija7 Wonders Committee.

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And, pray; which are the Seven Most Wonderful Sites in Nigeria? Well, the Fantabulous Septet, as we fondly call them; are: The Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River State; Sukur Kingdom, Adamawa State; Osun Groove in Osogbo, Osun State; Kano Ancient City Wall and Gates, Kano State; Oke Idanre Hills, Ondo State; Benin City Moat, Edo State; and, The National War Museum in Umuahia, Abia State.

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Collectively, the laureates included Didi Museum founder, Chief Newton Jibunoh; Otunba Olusegun Runsewe OON, NTDC Director-General; Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, MD of Remlords Tours and Car Hire; Mr. Ikechi Uko, Publisher of African Travel Quarterly (ATQ) magazine; Mr. Idowu Jemi Alade, Jemi Alade Tours; Mr. Andrew Okungbowa of The Guardian; Jane Ojukwu, NTA; Obinna Emelike, BusinessDay; Wale Olapade, Nigerian Tribune; Uguru Okorie, The Nation; Idowu Sowunmi, ThisDay; and, Maurice Archibong, author of Museums in Nigeria and Other Lands as well as Contributing Editor, Daily Sun and mauricearchibongtravels blogger.

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Sadly, however, mauricearchibongtravels was unavoidaly absent at the event due to bereavement. However, we were among those awarded a certificate of honour, a medal and so on, for contributing to the success of the exercise, which culminated in identification and endorsement of the seven must-see sights in the country.

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While presenting the certificate of merit and other awards, including T-shirts branded with the Seven Wonders of Nigeria and a bronze medal, to each member of the committee; the NTDC Director-General, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, described the event as a major milestone in the advancement of tourism development in the country.

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During the event, the NTDC DG; who eulogised the recipients for having distinguished themselves through their quota to the development of tourism in Nigeria, implored them to continue to strive and work as a team to check the activities of fraudsters in the industry.

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Speaking further, the NTDC chief, who observed that tourism is private sector-driven world-wide; charged all stakeholders and state governments to key into the effort to develop the industry; even as he advised: “We must not wait until the passing of our heroes before we celebrate them”.

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Also speaking during the event, Project Director of Naija7 Wonders and publisher of African Travel Quarterly (ATQ) magazine, Mr. Ikechi Uko; explained that there are people that contributed but were not honoured with a certificate because their involvement commenced after voting had been completed.

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He, however, went on to assure that the Phase Two would be expanded to accommodate more people; while recalling the genesis of the project, which began in 2010 with inputs from several individuals. Mr. Uko, who stressed the significance of Nigerians having the final say in the choice of the Seven Most Wonderful Sites in their country, was effusive with praise for Otunba Runsewe; whose fatherly role and relentless support for the project in its totality facilitated the exercise’s successful conclusion.

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It could be recalled that the NTDC had earlier endorsed the submission of the Project Committee during a courtesy call on Otunba Runsewe in Abuja; and, had also promised to promote the Seven Most Wonderful Sites as chosen by Nigerians.

By MAURICE ARCHIBONG

From the Naija 7 Committee Members’ Decorations by NTDC

Pic 1. L-R: NTDC DG, Otunba Runsewe, being decorated for his monumental contributions, which brought Naija 7 Wonders to fruition by Didi Museum founder, Chief Newton Jibunoh at Planet One in Lagos recently, during decoration of Committee Members of the Naija 7 Project.

Pic 2. L-R: Otunba Runsewe, Mr. Uko and Mr. Idowu Jemi Alade (Jemi Alade Tours) receiving a certificate of honour for his contributions.

Pic 3. L-R: Nkereuwem Onung, MD of Remlords Tours and Car Hire; Otunba Runsewe, NTDC DG; presenting a well-deserved award of honour to Mr. Uko, Project Director of Naija 7 Wonders for the success of the exercise.

Pic 4. L-R: Nkereuwem Onung, MD of Remlords Tours and Car Hire; receiving his certificate of honour from Otunba Runsewe, NTDC DG.

Pic 5. L-R: NTDC DG, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe OON in a tete-a-tete with Mr. Ikechi Uko, ATQ Publisher and Project Director, Naija 7 at Planet One in Lagos recently, during decoration of Committee Members of the Naija 7 Project.

Pic 6. L-R: Otunba Runsewe, Mr. Uko and Mr. Andrew Okungbowa of The Guardian receiving an award for his contributions, while Mr. Ayo Olowoporoku looks on.

Pic 7. Collective decoration for Naija 7 Wonders’ crew in uniform, courtesy NTDC.

Pic 8. L-R: Otunba Runsewe, Mr. Uko and Jane Ojukwu of NTA receiving an award for her contributions; with Mr. Ayo Olowoporoku looking on.

Pic 9. L-R: Otunba Runsewe, Mr. Uko and Ayo Olowoporoku, displaying his certificate of honour.

Pic 10. L-R: Otunba Runsewe, Mr. Uko and Idowu Sowunmi of ThisDay newspaper, receiving his certificate of honour.

Pic 11. L-R: Otunba Runsewe, Mr. Uko and Wale Olapade of Nigerian Tribune newspaper, receiving his certificate of honour.

Pic 12. L-R: Otunba Runsewe, Mr. Uko and Uguru Okorie of The Nation.

PHOTOS: NTDC Press