FTAN honours Lai Mohammed, Runsewe, Ikechi, Tarzan, others at 20th anniversary

As part of the celebration marking the 20th anniversary, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) on Tuesday honoured pioneer members and other stakeholders in the public and private sector for their unflinching support and commitment to the promotion and development of tourism in Nigeria.

The ceremony which rallied deserving awardees to an event hall at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, saw FTAN, honouring 21 pioneer members with different categories of honorary/recognition awards.

Among the awardees are the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed;Mr Goodie Ibru;Chief Mike Amachree; Chief Mrs jusephine Aneni Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe; Organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Mr Ikechi Uko; Chief Executive Officer of Jemmy Alade Tours, Mr Jemmy Alade; Chief Executive Officer, Tarzan Jetty and Boat Service, Mr Ganiyu Sekoni Balogun;Chief Samuel Alabi; President, Webisco International Federation of Women Entrepreneurs  and Tourism of Nigeria, Mrs Margret Fabiy;CEO Topcomm, Ogbeni Tope Awe;Mrs Fatima Gabati; among others

Speaking with Travelpulse&MICE on the award, the DG NCAC, Otunba Runsewe, an awardee, who also received a distinguished administrative award from the ANUPA Chapter of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, making the awards two in a roll in two weeks, thanked the Association for their prompt sensitivity and head up agenda at repositioning FTAN and also deeming it fit to carefully select the personalities that made list of the awardees.

“Everything we do, there is always a culture side to it. Culture is the only change we need to get it right and we must continue to work towards a cultural attitudinal change in all we do to strengthen all aspect of our human endeavour.

For Mr Uko, Organiser, Akwaaba African Travel Market Exhibition, who spoke with great enthusiasm, said it was an honour and a great delight to received  award with legends who I met in the industry.

“When i start tourism newly, the likes of Mr Masud Mani-Tukur, Dr Franklin Adejuwon, Mr Mike Amachree and some others veterans tourism stakeholders were the people i meet in the industry.

” But, today am being honor with them, It indeed a great pleasure for me. It means that one should be focus in what he or she knows how to do best. Someday you shall be recognise,” he said

Also, Mr Balogun, President, Association of Tourists, Boats Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATN), said that he has suffered a lot in the industry, according to him “ but I survived it when I did not relent.

“When is difficult, I endure. When the money comes, I feel relief but today I am happy to be recognise which is tied to my endurance, perseverance and contributions to the development of the industry.

Mr Rabo Saleh, President, FTAN said that today marks another milestone in the history of the association which started about 20years ago.

He said that the association which have 10members associations under its before but today as about 22 different registered professional associations.

Saleh said that the idea behind this celebration was to appreciate and honor men and women of proven integrity who have laboured so hard for the betterment of the industry.

“Today, I can proudly say that the fruit and labour of these distinguish people has not been in vain. That is why we are celebrating them today.”

Saleh, therefore, call on the present government to give tourism all the needed attention required by creating enabling environment for tourism to thrive.

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