Sirika, Lai Mohammed, Runsewe, others for NANTA AGM, March 27 in Lagos

PREPARATIONS for the 43rd edition of the non-elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) OF National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) is on top gear as the Bankole Bernard led executives has made adequate arrangement to host the six zones in Lagos.

Billed to hold at the Muson Centre, Lagos on March 27, 2019, the AGM will be dwelling on at core issues of the travel sector with theme ‘Developing strategic policy for the development and growth of travel and tourism industry in Nigeria, aimed at taking NANTA to the next level.

According to Bernard “the Association is working to make the 43rd AGM a memorable event and with over four decades in the industry, it show that we are not young in this business so we want to make this AGM a very special one with its own uniqueness.

“ as we have done in the past, we will try as much as possible to draw the government attention to travel and tourism which is enough to take any country to the next level. So our hope is that the next level President Muhammadu Buhari is talking about will surey have a roll back for travel and toruism in Nigeria.

“ as you are aware that Ethiopia is mainly sustained by its tourism and aviation sector, so I see no reason, why a country like Nigeria cannot thrive or suevival with aviation and tourism.

“So we are looking at a situation whereby we will be able to draw the government attention to tourism because we have what it takes in teams of potential to look less into the oil sector and stay focus tourism.

Making the event an all inclusive one, NANTA president said people expected at the AGM include Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Director-General of the National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC), Chief Segun Runsewe and the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Folarin Coker.

Others are the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, former Speaker Lagos state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi and other industry stakeholders.

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He listed the partners in the AGM to include, Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, RwandAir, Sabre, Galileo, UBA, Leadway Assurance, ASA Mansard Insurance among others.

Also, the chairperson of the AGM planning committee, Mrs Susan Akporaye stressed the need to let the government see the potential in tourism and travel sector in Nigeria.

“Since the government is on the verge of taking the economy to the next level, we as an association, we want to be part of the next level and as sure we have to position ourselves to be part of the next level.

“The truth is that tourism is a private sector thing but on the other hands it also needs the government backing in the area of policy and legislation and that is why in this year’s AGM we are not only bring people that matters, but also pick a strategic theme to deliberate on.”

Akporaye said there will an awareness walk for the AGM on the 26th in Lagos.