Former Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has boldly asserted that tourism holds the key to Nigeria’s economic prosperity as the reliance on oil revenue becomes increasingly precarious.
Runsewe conveyed the vision during a significant gathering of travel, tourism, and culture stakeholders, the celebration of the 60th birthday of Ambassador Ikechi Uko, the esteemed African Travel and Tourism icon, taking place at National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.
Otunba Runsewe of NCAC emphasized that, with the global shift away from fossil fuels, Nigeria must strategically position itself to harness the potential of its tourism sector.
Addressing a diverse audience that included tourism stakeholders and friends of Ambassador Uko from various African countries, Runsewe underscored the importance of acknowledging and celebrating individuals who have contributed significantly to the growth of the tourism industry.
Commendations
The former NCAC Director-General commended Uko for his remarkable contributions to the growth of the tourism, travel, aviation, and hospitality industries, both in Nigeria and across the African continent.
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International figures such as the Former Minister of Seychelles, Alain St. Ange, expressed admiration for Uko’s contributions to African tourism, expressing hopes that he will continue delivering positive impacts.
Mrs. Ime Udoh, President of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), conveyed gratitude to Uko on behalf of tour operators for his unwavering support. Additionally, Mr. Gabe Onah, Chairman of the Carnival Calabar Commission, praised Uko for his consistent support of Carnival Calabar, acknowledging his transformative touch of excellence.
Ambassador Uko is renowned for organizing events such as the Akwaaba African Travel Market, Accra Weizo and Abuja Jabamah and also for his profound impact on African tourism through various platforms.
“African Cooking Pot”
The event saw the walls of the National Museum adorned with the Naija7wonders initiative pioneered by Mr. Uko. A symbolic gesture was also made with the installation of a sizable African Cooking Pot, recognizing Uko’s role in popularizing Jollof Rice globally, marked by the Jollof Wars that ignited with the Ghana Tourism Authority in 2016.
