AJOWALE

 Nigerian Tribune's Tourism Editor, Prince Wale Olapade Loses Father, Burial Holds August 2. GLORIOUS EXIT:  The burial arrangement of Pa Charles Olatunbosun Olapade, father of Prince Wale Olapade, Tourism Editor and Team Leader, Business Desk, Nigerian Tribune, has been announced. Pa Olapade, a community leader and retired military officer, died on 3rd July 2024 at the age of 84. According to the statement released by the family, the burial arrangement commences on Thursday, 1st August with a Christian Wake at SDA Primary School, Ayede, off Erunmu Road, Egbeda Local Government, Ibadan by 2 pm. The Church service will be held on Friday, 2nd August at St Gerald's Catholic Church, Erunmu, while the body will be interred at his house in Ayede. The reception will follow immediately at the SDA Primary School, Ayede Model community. Pa Olapade is survived by his wife; Mrs Elizabeth Olapade, children; Asiwaju Femi Martins Olapade, UK, Prince (Phd) Wale M. Olapade (JP), Nigeria, Engr....

Governor Otu visits, says Blake Resort Calabar is a significant milestone HOSPITALITY:  The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu recently visited the construction site of the Blake Entertainment Centre Calabar, located at the Marina Resort. Otu expressed his enthusiasm about the development, recalling fond memories of celebrating with friends at the Blake Resort in Abuja many years ago. He praised the Managing Director and CEO of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau for their efforts in bringing the prestigious Blake Resort to Calabar. He emphasized the positive impact the resort is having on the local economy, particularly through the employment opportunities it is creating for the youth in the area. "The arrival of Blake Resort in Calabar is a significant milestone for us. I am very pleased to see the progress and I promise to provide all necessary support to ensure its successful completion. The economic benefits and the boost in tourism this project br...

Operators must be creative, unique in packaging tours—Egbuna, MD TBI Travelinnovation:  The Managing Director, Tour Brokers Group of Companies (TBI), Uloma Egbuna has counseled Nigerian tour operators to be creative in packaging authentic and unique tours to market Nigeria as a choice destination. Egbuna made the disclosure at the 8th Annual General Meeting’s conference session of the National Association of Nigeria Tour Operators in Ilorin, Kwara State with the theme “Tourism as Catalyst for Progress, Peace and Partnership.” Egbuna said tour operators must be creative in packaging authentic and unique tour packages, different from what tourists had been used to. She said as much as tours to historical and heritage sites were attractive enough for tourists, unique packages around experiences could be developed to further woo tourists. “As tour operators, you need to create authentic and creative experiences that are unique to us. We can have packages around Danfo buses in...

Curator urges FG to save 36-year-old national museum Ilorin from deplorable condition MUSEUM :  The Curator, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Ilorin branch, Mrs Woleola Idebi, has called on the Federal Government to renovate the 36-year-old museum as it is in a deplorable state. The curator made the call on Friday when members of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators visited the museum, as part of activities for the association’s ongoing Eighth Annual General Meeting (AGM) and conference in Ilorin. Idebi said that visits by tourists to the museum have reduced drastically due to its unattractive condition. “This museum was established in 1988, purposefully to protect our rich cultural history and tradition as well as promote the nation’s cultural heriatge, but we are not getting to do that. “The museum is no longer attractive to woo tourists because of the current condition, the fences are falling apart, we do not have access to power supply. “From the ...

Kwara First Lady woos foreign, domestic investors, tourists TOURISMDRIVE:   The First Lady of Kwara State, Professor Olufolake Abdulrasaq, has urged local and international tourists to explore the tourism potentialities in the state. Abdulrazaq made the call in Ilorin during the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) and conference of the National Association of Nigeria Tour Operators (NATOP). “Kwara with its vantage in the North-Central region is endowed with immense and captivating tourist destinations, widely referred to as ‘a wonder in the wilderness.” “The Owu falls is the highest and most spectacular natural waterfall in West Africa. “Founded in 1945 and widely referenced as the mother of all museums in Nigeria, the Esie Museum is located in Irepodun local government area of Kwara state. “We have Imole Boja rock shelter, we also have the Sobi hills, the University of Ilorin Zoological Garden, the Dada pottery, the Aso-Oke weaving centres among other very interesting...

Preparation for FTAN AGM hots up, unveils panelists AGM-CONFERENCE:   The Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) has  announced seven members of panelists that will do justice to the theme of the non-elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) slated to hold at the Rockview Hotel Abuja on July 30, 2024. The carefully selected panelists include Mrs. Funmi Kazeem President, Hotel owners Forum Abuja, HOFA and the Treasurer of FTAN,  ⁠ Mr philip Maga Senior Assistance, Special Duties, NIHOTOUR,  ⁠ Mr Samson Aturu, President, Hotel and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN) and  ⁠ Mrs Dorathy Duruaku, Director, International Tourism Department, Ministry of Tourism. Others are  ⁠ Mr Ody Friday Anumba Special Assistant, Special Duties (NTDA),  ⁠ Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, former President, NANTA and 2nd Deputy President, FTAN and Mr Sunday Bisong, Acting Director, Domestic Tourism Department, Ministry of Tourism. The theme of the AGM IS the role...

TRAVELICON:   It is very difficult to believe that Tereza Ojo is no more. She was a pioneer of a different mould, an industry care giver, a special bred, and an achiver, a role model,  minister of tourism and aviation Nigeria never had. Tereza Ojo was an embodiment of beauty,  courage, and integrity.  As the first female president of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies( NANTA), Tereza Ojo (  then years back as Ezeobi) brought refreshing transformation to the business of Nigeria emerging travel trade and tourism business.  At her time as NANTA President(;1993/5, her Tess travels company located at the Tafawa Balewa square in lagos,  was the,industry barometer,  the measuring scale, and investors guide to what  and how a travel company should be like.   She was focused,  cerebral, and fearless.  She was the face of travel trade in Nigeria then,  humble,  yet a detailed disciplinarian and kind. ...

                                                                                                                                                                            Acting Vice Chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi and President of NANTA, Mr Yinka Folami, during NANTA’s team visit to the former in Abuja, recently.                                             ...

ECOWAS Commissioner, Botswana envoy, three DGs for FTAN AGM July 30 Event/AGM: In its determination to make this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) a flagship event, the federation has lined up core domestic and International stakeholders in the tourism industry to dissect the theme of the event. Slated to hold at the Rockview Hotel Abuja on July 30, 2024 with the theme; ‘the role of the private sector in the development of the tourism industry, the Botswana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Philda Nani Kereng will grace the event as the Keynote speaker. Others include the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade John, Minister of Culture, Hanatu Masawa, sports, Mr. John Eno and the Director Generals of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, NTDA, National Council for Art and Culture, NCAC, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOURS, ECOWAS Commissioner for tourism among others. The Chairman of the planning commi...