* FTAN President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung * Pix source : Reporters At Large
…Says New Exco Will Bring Federation’s Agenda Close To State, Local Governments
The President of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria(FTAN), Mr Nkereuwem Onung, has inaugurated the South-West Executive to coordinate the affair of the zone.
An online statement jointly signed by the Public Relation Officers(PROs) of FTAN, Wale Olapade and Glory Okon,explained that the inauguration is of part efforts by the Federation to give the Nigerian tourism and allied sector a pivotal relevance through practical promotion and engagement of the private sector.
The inauguration which was done through a zoom conference have the following individual as the statutory persons authorised by the federation to run the affairs of the South West Zone and also liaise with the government and relevant state authorities in enhancing the tourism agenda of not only promoting but also re-inventing newer ways to explore and promote the rich potential for the benefit of the states and the drivers of the industry.
Among the newly inaugurated executives for the South West Council of FTAN are : the Chairman Kolade Julius Tunde (Vice President FTAN), Vice President, Yinka Folami, Secretary, Sam Adeleke, Treasurer, Adeniyi Ologunamuyi, Membership officer, Hon. Saheed Babatunde Lawal, Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs Ime Udo and Oyo State Coordinator, Wale Olapade.
Others are: Ekiti State Coordinator, Dr Abioye Adedibe, Ogun State Coordinator, Ibraheem Kukoyi, Osun State Coordinator, Olutokunbo Dagunduro and Ondo State coordinator, Funmi Rotiba.
Speaking during the zoom meeting, FTAN, President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, said that the inauguration was timely to practically activate the new agenda of the new FATAN executives at reinventing the promotional architecture of tourism in Nigeria.
He added that it is also to boost the domestic tourism engagement of states and that the excos will help to making the public and private sector engagement a sustainable one.
Onung was optimistic that the South West executive is a sure platform that will bring the agenda of the federation close to the government in the state and at the local level viz-a-viz opening each state’s hidden and untapped tourism potential for not only domestic patronage but also lure the international market.
The FTAN President,however congratulated everyone for practically answering the national call by putting in their best to taking tourism as the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.
Reflecting on the forthcoming World Tourism Day scheduled for September 27, 2021, the President said, “We are aware that Kebbi State is hosting the event, but we are yet to know the role we (FTAN) are to play.”
Speaking on the recently announced right for Nigeria to host the 2022 United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s Regional CAF conference, Onung expressed optimism at the gesture, noting that the opportunity is an avenue for Nigeria to upscale its relevance as a serious tourism nation as well as positioning itself among comity of nations.
“This is another opportunity to get it right and also do everything within our reach to not only create a tourism content out of the event, but also to explore it for the benefit of the stakeholders, ” he said.
While congratulating the newly inaugurated South West excos, the Chairman Board of Trustee of FTAN, Chief Sam Alabi, said it is a new dawn and urged the members of South-West executive to effectively carry out the federation’s obligation assigned to them to bring out the best in each state and to change the narrative for benefit of all.
He, however called on all state’s tourism apparatus to see and engage with the new executive in activating, showcasing and promoting rich tourism potential to achieve the basic advantage of the industry, which are revenue generation, job creation and opening the state to both domestic and foreign investment opportunities.
FTAN is the umbrella body of the 23 tourism and allied sectors that oil different value chain activities and businesses in Nigeria.
