A unanimous vote of confidence was passed on Nigeria by participants at this year’s edition of Abuja Bantaba Travel Fair, which took place at the Sheraton Hotels and Suites in Abuja on Wednesday April 25.
Practically every guest declared that Nigeria is safe, even as the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, lauded participants at this year’s event for defying the odds to attend the travel exhibition.
In his address, Otunba Runsewe noted that the NTDC has been revolutionary and practical in its approach to tourism development in Nigeria. The NTDC helmsman went on to eulogise participants for taking part, while promising a plaque and certificate for all exhibitors along with a StarTimes digital decoder with six months’ free subscription.
Several notable individuals, including Abuja Bantaba organiser and travel industry veteran, Mr. Ikechi Uko, a were unequivocal in their claim that despite the challenges of national security, Nigeria remains safe with a thriving tourism industry.
Mr. Uko maintained that the challenges faced by Nigeria were by no means peculiar to the country asserting that the tourism community is strong, resilient and that despite major security concerns, the successful hosting of this year’s Bantaba has proven that tourism always recovers from momentary setbacks.
To buttress his point, Uko cited countries like Kenya and Egypt that have staged phenomenal comebacks in tourism development and promotion irrespective of major crises at one point or another in their history.
Complementing Mr. Uko’s assertion, Chairman of Hotel Owners Forum, Abuja (HOFA), Engineer Onofiok Ekong, called for unity among all practitioners in the industry, while saying that HOFA was poised to synergize with other stakeholders in moving the hospitality industry forward, the challenges besetting it, notwithstanding.
Re-echoing the position of other speakers at the event, former member, House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Hon. KGB Oguakwa commended all attendees, who insisted in participating, despite the alarm raised by a section of the international media that Nigeria is unsafe.
In his remarks, former Minister of State, Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, also agreed that crises do not necessarily impede the advancement of tourism, rather; provision must be made to operate with a view to accommodating the setback.
This year’s edition of Abuja Bantaba was attended by numerous hospitality practitioners, travel agencies, tour operators, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from the Gambia and Sierra Leone, among others.
Olujobi, ex-scribe of Nigerians in Cotonou is dead
Pa Olujobi receiving an award for meritorious service as outgoing General Secretary of NIDO in 2011. PHOTO: MAURICE ARCHIBONG
The founding General Secretary of the Cotonou Chapter of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Pa Abdul Lateef Olujobi, is dead. Pa Olujobi was first elected General Secretary of the then Nigerian Community Union NCU (now NIDO) in 2002 and served in that capacity until the inauguration of a new executive of the pan-Nigerian body in 2011.
Aged 69, Pa Olujobi passed on at his Cotonou home in the early hours of Wednesday, May 2, 2012 (today). Olujobi, who hailed from Ile Olujobi Street in Ede, Osun State; is believed to have succumbed to some stress-related ailment.
When informed of Olujobi’s transition, many prominent Nigerians living in Cotonou, including Kano-born Alhaji Mounirou Garba, current Vice President of NIDO and Seriki Hausawa (Head of Hausa community), expressed shock and sadness at the tragedy. Alhaji Mounirou, who was in the French capital, Paris en route Cairo in Egypt; when we reached him over the phone with news of Olujobi’s passage sounded very sad, even as he submissively remarked: “I’m so sad. But, we should all take heart because it is the will of Allah”.
On his part, Chief Emmanuel Uko Elendu, who also holds the traditional title Aka eji eje mba 1 of Alayi, Abia state and worked closely with Olujobi for roughly 10 years as exco members of NIDO; lamented the death of the man, while asking for funeral arrangements. He would later say that even though he had a very tight schedule for Wednesday, May 1; he shall attend the late man’s burial and that we should keep him posted as to the time, when the body will move from the mosque for the cemetery.
Meanwhile, the entire Nigerian community in Cotonou is reeling from shock as news of Baba Olujobi’s passage spread like wild fire during Harmattan across the Beninese economic capital. According to Baba Suleiman Lawal, also Ede-born and Malam Saliou Karim; two money exchangers that shared trading spot with the late Olujobi at Jonquet, remains of the deceased will be intered at a cemetery in the PK 40 area of Cotonou on the way to Hilla Condji, after an Islamic service at a Mosque in Zango.
Although his occupation in the last 20 years of his life was as money exchanger on Rue des Cheminots in the Jonquet neighbourhood of Cotonou, Pa Olujobi spent the early years of his life working as a signwriter and also handled some printing jobs for the Nigerian Army during the civil war.
Fondly called Baba Ede or Baba Rasaki, after his son; Pa Olujobi will be missed by every Nigerian in Cotonou, for he always rose to the occasion; whenever called upon to find solution to any difficulty encountered by Nigerians in the neighbouring country.
We first met Pa Olujobi in 2000 and had found in him a genial elder that frequently offered candid advice for free. We also came to respect him the more because of his cosmopolitan disposition. Though Yoruba, Pa Olujobi was at home with every human being, irrespective of race, religion or creed.
And, when it came to work, he was dead serious and pursued every assignment with a sense of dispatch.
We were there at Halls des Art, Cotonou; when Olujobi et al were formally sworn in as NCU executives in 2004. We were also there, when after handing over the reins of leadership, Elendu, Olujobi and others were given plaques of honour for their exemplary conducts, whilst NCU/NIDO leaders.
And, one can easily recall how Pa Olujobi got everyone laughing, when while receiving his plaque of honour, he had declared: “O, I feel so happy. I have never received any award in my life. Today, I am so happy because of this award.
“If you gave me money, I believe after some time, that money would finish. But, with this award, my children and grandchildren will be proud of me. When they see this plaque on the wall, they will remember that they had a father that lived a worthy life”.
Mr. Wilfred Imasuen, incumbent NIDO Provost, who also served in the same capacity during the Chief Emmanuel Uko Elendu NIDO Presidency, when Pa Olujobi was General Secretary; stated in an early tribute to the departed soul: “I worked with Baba Olujobi and will remember him as a man of astute integrity, epitome of discipline, an exemplary leader and a rare gem. May his soul rest in peace”.
Says– NTDC DG,Balogun Yoruba of Abuja, Most Enterprising DG, Chairman, Governing Council of Journalism Institute etc
Years ago installed Otunba, a reverred title in any Oba’s palace; Olusegun Runsewe also holds an OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger) National Honour and has been decorated with enviable titles by powerful traditional institutions in different ethnic and geo-political zones across the country.
Pic 1. PHOTOS: NTDC Press
A former General Manager of Kaduna-based New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN), Otunba Runsewe has brought phenomenal developments to the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in particular as well as Nigerian Tourism in general since assuming the mantle of leadership of Nigeria’s apex tourism body as Director General in 2006.
Already laden with numerous feathers, more jewels have been added to the cap of Runsewe in the last few weeks. Interestingly, shortly after the Yoruba community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led by Oba of Yoruba in Abuja, HRH Kabiyesi Olusegun Salau, recently conferred the title of Balogun Yoruba of Abuja on Otunba Runsewe; the NTDC chief came under a deluge of honours.
‘Most Enterprising DG of the Year’
One of the latest in the wave of honours for Otunba Runsewe came from The Nigerian Tribune Awards,where the NTDC boss was crowned Most Enterprising Director General of 2011. The event also featured awards to three other recipients: Senate President David Mark, Best Public Officer of the Year; Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Best Governor of the Year; and, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Man of the Year. Yes, who the cap fits, let him wear it.
During his welcome address, Rev Sam Adesua, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria, publishers of The Nigerian Tribune and organisers of the honours ceremony, eulogised Otunba Olusegun Runsewe as “A man spear-heading a silent revolution of rebranding Nigeria in a very unique way”.
Rev Adesua further noted that, Otunba Runsewe “Has been show-casing to the outside world Nigeria’s unique attractions. Since he mounted the saddle as NTDC DG, he has practically transformed the face of the nation’s tourism such that despite some glaring odds, tourism in Nigeria remains a source of pride”.
Speaking in the same vein, a former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara, who was Chairman of the occasion, said Runsewe’s efforts are noticeable both locally and internationally. The former Senate President went on to add that the NTDC chief’s efforts were commendable because tourism is a viable option for increasing Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In deed, Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu also added his voice to the chorus of encomiums for Runsewe. Runsewe is a “dedicated and hardworking public officer, who does not see any assignment as too big or small”, declared Niger’s Number One Citizen.
Going down memory lane, Governor Aliyu recalled: “Runsewe has always demonstrated his love for Nigeria as could be seen from his impressive performance as National Media Cordinator for the 2003 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
For many, however, the apogee of all honours to Runsewe must be the remark by the reverred Chief (Mrs.) HID Awolowo, matriarch of the Awolowo clan, who described the NTDC boss as “one of the finest brand managers in Nigeria because of his avowed commitment to improving the image of Nigeria and creating wealth through tourism”. As Mama HID rightly pointed out, Runsewe “Has proven cynics wrong by proving that Nigeria can rise again”.
Delivering his acceptance speech, the NTDC boss commended the Management of The Nigerian Tribune for organising the Awards imploring all Nigerians to remain united while dedicating his award to God, his immediate family, and all who had contributed to the development of tourism in Nigeria, he also used the opportunity to distribute a book he personally complied titled, “Hundred ever-green quotes of the great Awo” to everyone in attendance.
In his speech, President Goodluck Jonathan represented by the Minister of Tourism Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke congratulated the Awardees and advised the media to be sensitive in its reportage of security-related issues in the country.
Niger Delta Students hail Runsewe
Not to be outdone, the National Association of Niger Delta Students (NANDS) has also acknowledged the monumental strides recorded by Otunba Olusegun Runsewe since he assumed duty as NTDC Director General.
Pic 4.
The students, through NANDS President Comrade Lucky Emonefe, during a courtesy visit to Otunba Runsewe in Abuja, applauded the NTDC DG for his commitment to actualising the total success of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.
Delivering his keynote address, Emonefe, leader of the 15-year-old Niger Delta students’ body; said: “We came to crest your name in Gold in the sand of history based on your antecedents and your support of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s transformation agenda”.
Now Chairman, Governing Council of IIJ
Furthermore, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe FIMS, FABE, OON was recently appointed Chairman, Governing Council of the International Institute of Journalists (IIJ). The IIJ is affiliated to University of Maiduguri and the journalism school’s Visitor is Comrade Garba Mohammed.
In a letter, signed by Mr. Afolabi Olusola, IIJ Registrar and dated March 29, 2012, announcing Runsewe’s appointment as Governing Council Chairman; the NTDC DG is rightly described as “A man of outstanding performance, who strives at all times to improve the quality of any situation he is involved in”.
Tourism Development Fund, a necessity
At another forum, the NTDC DG reiterated the call for the establishment of a Tourism Development Fund (TDF). Otunba Runsewe re-echoed this view while receiving Abuja Zone executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), led by the current vice president, Susan Akporiaye, at the Tourism Village in Abuja.
Pic 5.
Runsewe said the Corporation was working hard to ensure realisation of the Tourism Development Fund, which is expected to signal a major boost in the growth of the sector in Nigeria.
Speaking further, the NTDC boss, who observed that a lot of opportunities abound within Nigeria’s tourism industry, went on to express regret about the dearth of expertise among practitioners on how the industry works. He declared that these practitioners’ poor grasp of how the industry operates remains a major setback to the growth and development of tourism in Nigeria.
He, however, assured that the NTDC was nonetheless committed to working with tourism and travel associations like NANTA and advised all travel agencies and tour operators to function and coordinate their activities so as to eliminate quacks in the industry.
On its part, NANTA promised to redefine its role in the tourism industry with the help of NTDC, while reaffirming total cooperation with the corporation, even as it agreed that more needed to be done to encourage the flow of in-bound tourist traffic instead of tour operators sticking to only selling tickets.
Team Nigeria gets NTDC’s pre-Olympics boost
If you think sports is all about physical exertions with no time for relaxation, then you need to think again. Sports are good because it helps to build a good body around a sound mind, but there’s more to sports than tracks and field.
Pic 2.
Like virtually every other human activity, sport has its tourism angle. To start with, competitors, umpires, officials and spectators all have to travel to the venue. In many cases, the event takes place outside your town, so one must arrive a day or earlier and take up accommodation in a hotel or guesthouse throughout the sojourn.
Moreover, whereas a football world cup final match cannot last more than three hours, assume the encounter went into extra time and eventually penalty shoot-out; the players and spectators would have spent days in the town hosting the tournament.
In other words, while the soccer final, the principal reason behind every visitor’s presence in the host community, often does not last more than 90 minutes; hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, transport operators, money exchangers and every other tourism facility are tapped for days before and even days after the sporting even had ended.
And, so it was that during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted by South Africa and the very first ever on the African continent; The Nigeria Village erected by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) proved a big hit not only for our compatriots but nationals of other countries in need of a place to unwind after the day’s business.
In line with the NTDC’s desire to come up with something, anything positive, to project Nigeria’s image; the Otunba Olusegun Runsewe-led body has again thought up a brilliant idea in support of Team Nigeria going to the next Olympic Games. The idea, in a nutshell, is to mobilise 1,000,000 supporters for Team Nigeria. And, the exercise was launched at Planet One, Maryland in Lagos a few hours before the NTDC helmsman set out for the German capital, Berlin, for this year’s ITB, roughly three weeks ago.
Seated next to Mr. Ikechi Uko, Project Coordinator of Seven Wonders of Nigeria, among others, Otunba Runsewe explained that booklets of raffle tickets had been printed and that every Nigerian was invited to fill a ticket for free.
The NTDC has even added a digital dimension to this campaign with its online signature mobilisation and support for Team Nigeria for this year’s Summer Olympics in London. At the end, a draw would be held from which winners will emerge. Each winner will subsequently enjoy an NTDC-sponsored trip to, and a few days’ stay at, each of the 7 Wonders of Nigeria.
A branded banner depicting the Mobilisation Tourism concept launched by the NTDC to garner One Million Supporters for Team Nigeria in the forthcoming Olympics was unfolded during the event, where Runsewe said it was the NTDC’s way of promoting domestic tourism while concurrently helping more Nigerians to appreciate the allurements of their country.
With this kind of synergy, you just can’t miss. Although the original plan was for Otunba Runsewe to meet with some 15 or so tourism reporters/travel writers, at the end of the day, about 50 people crammed into the venue. Interestingly, a few more even turned up as we were emerging from the hall after the event.
Pic 3.
Everyone wants to identify with a winner… Yes, this adage must be true.
By MAURICE ARCHIBONG
Captions
Pic 1. Otunba Runsewe FIMS, FEMB, OON, NTDC DG.
Pic 2. One of the banners rolled out by NTDC to mobilise One Million Supporters for Team Nigeria to this year’s Olympic Games in London.
Pic 3. L-R: Otunba Segun Runsewe receiving Programmes’ Schedule of Kaduna-based Liberty Radio from Alhaji Tijani Ramalan, Executive Chairman of the broadcasting outfit during the latter’s visit to Tourism Village, Abuja recently.
Pic 4. R-L: Comrade Lucky Emonefe, President of National Association of Niger Delta Students (NANDS), presenting an award for Distinguished Nigerian Personality in Diligent Service to the Fatherland to Otunba Segun Runsewe during the former’s visit to Tourism Village, Abuja recently.
Pic 5. L-R: Otunba Segun Runsewe handing out souvenirs to Susan Akporiaye, NANTA Abuja Zone Vice President, when the latter led a delegation on official visit to Tourism Village, Abuja recently.
