The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Tourism and Entertainment, Princess Onyekachi Atuloma has called on Nigerians to pull together ideas and strategies that will help implement and position the nation as a leading tourism destination in Africa.
Princess Atuloma, who is also a onetime Miss Abia (Ada Abia) Beauty Pageant, dropped this hint during the 24th Annual Meeting and General Election of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), held at Rockview Hotel (Royale) in Wuse Zone 2 Abuja, Abuja.
She challenged FTAN to be more assertive in championing and making a case for a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism in other to cushion its current neglect, pointing out that the Abia State government under Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has performed creditably in the state tourism sector.
The Abia governor’s aide explained that the government has also taken concrete steps at uplifting and repositioning the tourism sector in the state, even as she assured of the state government preparedness to partner with relevant development agencies in other to harness the tourism potentials of the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Tourism and Entertainment, while describing the theme of the this year’s AGM “Constitution Review As It Affects Tourism Development In Nigeria” as apt, further harped on the need for more stringent policies that will help engender a robust internal and external relationship with FTAN and its member associations, public sector institutions, the larger tourism, travel trade industry and businesses in addition to impacting positively, digitally and differentially on FTAN’s corporate administration and funding capabilities.
In his welcome address earlier, the Acting President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, while describing the FTAN as the umbrella body for tourism operators in the private sector disclosed that the event would be a watershed in the annals of the federation as it is expected to usher in a new era for the federation and tourism development.
Mr Onung further expressed delight at the prospect of the AGM bringing together various stakeholders and members of the federation to deliberate on it’s affairs, periscope and chart a new course for Nigeria’s tourism development, pointed out that a befitting tribute will be paid to Rabo, a renowned tourism operator, who served as the president of the association between July 2017 and April 16th, 2021.
Our Reporter explains that the event which featured the election of new executives, presentation of paper by the Guest Speaker, Mrs Chinenye Oragwu, attracted the presence of the DG NACA, Otumba Olusegun Runsewe, Chief Ikechi Uko, Mrs Bilikisu Abdul NATOP Chairman, Members of FTAN across the federation among other notable personalities.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
