NATOP concludes 2024 AGM/Conference in Ilorin, as Mustapha emerges new president

[By VICTOR NZE]

National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) has concluded its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, with the election of Mrs Bolaji Mustapha as its new president, succeeding Mrs Ime Udo, who was previously in the position.

Mrs Udo, who was last year appointed as Special Adviser on Tourism to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Ene Umo, however, remains as the financial secretary of the umbrella body of industry’s private sector practitioners, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN).

New president, Mrs Mustapha, the CEO of Grand Express Tour (GET) Centre was elected unopposed, moving up from her previous role as Deputy President.

The newly elected executives of NATOP include: Mrs. Geraldine Itoe – Deputy President; Otunba Michael Balogun – General Secretary; Mrs. Joy Alexander-Oziegbe – Deputy General Secretary; Ogugua Anobili – Financial Secretary; Odion Chigbufue – Treasurer; Mr. Onyeka – Public Relations Officer; Anago Osho – Vice President, South West; and Mark Moore – Vice President/Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The AGM/Conference held from Wednesday, July 17 through to 20 in the Kwara State capital under the theme of; ‘Tourism as Catalyst for Progress, Peace and Partnership.’

In her keynote address at the opening ceremony of the AGM, Thursday, special guest,  the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade-John, urged  tourism operators  in the country not to be discouraged in marketing Nigeria as a choice destination for tourists because of its challenge of insecurity.

According to the minister, several countries across the world have their own tales of insecurity, and the problem was not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that Nigerian tour operators ‘are not creating the experiences we should create.’

“This meeting here helps us to express what we have in Nigeria. We are not creating the experiences we should create. Forget the security challenge in Nigeria, every country has security issues.

“Don’t allow the problem of insecurity discourage you from promoting Nigeria.

“And in marketing our dear nation, you should think of promoting experiences. Tourists can come to Nigeria to look at our climate. That is an experience.

“We have beautiful beaches with mangroves. Why are we not selling these things? We should stop complaining about government and create experiences ourselves to attract tourists.

“We have experiences you can package for tourists from the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), in which there are communities with stories and traditions to be packaged as tours,” the minister said.

Mrs Ade-John also advised Nigerians to speak positively about the nation and remain proud of same.

“We should not be engaged in de-marketing our country, and we should speak positively about this beautiful country.

Also speaking, Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Mr Onung Nkereuwem, expressed satisfaction over the progress made by operators in promoting and marketing Nigeria as a destination in spite of the harsh economic realities as he assured that his members ‘will continue to work tirelessly to create an enabling environment for our members to thrive.’

Mr Onung, who also doubles as the President of FTAN, however, urged NATOP members to ‘work together to promote sustainable tourism practices, enhance the quality of our services, and showcase the beauty and diversity of our great nation.’

On her part, the outgone president, Mrs Ime Udo, disclosed that NATOP as a driver and stimulator of tourism development was utilising the AGM to identify, explore and promote destinations.

Udo said the platform was also meant to engage policy makers in areas of collaboration, infrastructure development and best practices within the tourism industry.

“While we are grateful for the partnership with the Kwara Government to host our annual conference, we also commend Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his visionary leadership and proactiveness on matters of tourism.

“This is evident in the enormous support we have received towards the planning of the AGM and conference. Our approach has achieved tremendous success, stimulating awareness and growth in the states where we have held our AGM.

“We are excited that it also allows tourism operators gain first-hand experience of these destinations, enabling them to curate tourism packages to these places,” she said.

According to Udo, the tourism remains ‘a significant contributor to economic development, cultural exchange, and international understanding,’ adding that ‘it possesses the potential to unite nations and communities, foster global citizenship, and promote peace and prosperity.’

Other speakers at the AGM/Conference opening included; Mr Bayo Adedeji, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Wakanow, who spoke on the sub-theme; ‘Partnership for Progress: Shaping the Future of Tourism,’ as well as, Dr Kabir Masanawai, the Executive Director, Economic Development and Investment, who spoke on the sub-theme; ‘Peaceful Destinations, Progressing Economies: The Role of Tourism.’

Earlier, Wife of Kwara Governor, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrasaq, in her address, urged local and international tourists to explore the tourism potential in the state.

“Kwara with its vantage in the North-Central region is endowed with immense and captivating tourist destinations, widely referred to as ‘a wonder in the wilderness’.

“The Owu falls is the highest and most spectacular natural waterfall in West Africa.

“Founded in 1945 and widely referenced as the mother of all museums in Nigeria, the Esie Museum is located in Irepodun local government area of Kwara state.

“We have Imole Boja rock shelter, we also have the Sobi hills, the University of Ilorin Zoological Garden, the Dada pottery, the Aso-oke weaving centres among other very interesting sites.

“In celebrating our culture and traditions we equally have the annual Ilorin Durbar, the Gani festival, the Shao mass wedding and the Patigi boat regatta to mention a few,” she said.

Mrs Abdulrazaq, who commended the tour operators for bringing their annual conference to the state, urged them to explore the spots mentioned and further promote the economic potential that abound in the state, as she noted that Kwara’s rich historical background, wonders of nature and exquisite cultural events were sights to behold.

She stated that Gov. Abdulrasaq was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that opportunities in the tourism sector in the state were maximized, which, according to her, is evident in government’s engagements in partnerships, evolving investment friendly policies and putting in place infrastructure to drive all sectors of the state’s economy.

“In complementing this drive of government my office and the Ajike People Support Centre is actively involved in promoting tourism and celebrating the cultural heritage of our people.

“It may interest you to know that during our host of the Commonwealth quiz competition, top functionaries of the British government were conducted round some of these beautiful sites.

“Also, I have sponsored some of our traditional aso-oke weavers to participate in fashion shows of international repute with a view to showcasing Kwara state and enhancing their capacities,” she said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, and on the sidelines of the AGM in Ilorin, NATOP reached an agreement with management of the Kwara State University (KWASU) to improve tourism curriculum in students.

The agreement was reached when members of NATOP visited the Tourism and Hospitality Management Department of the university, on Friday, as part of activities for the association’s AGM and conference in Ilorin.

Alhaja Bolaji Mustapha, National President of NATOP, said the partnership was to enable the association expose the students to the practical aspect of the university’s tourism curriculum.

“We are aware that you take these students through the theoretical aspect of the curriculum, we want to come in, as professionals, to expose the students to the practicals of all they are taught.

“We want the partnership to move the tourism industry forward, exposing them to the practicals will boost their comprehension and at the long run impact our industry positively.

“The partnership has started and we will take it to another level,” she said.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, appreciated the association for the visit.

Jimoh, who was represented by Prof. Emmanuel Ajani, Director, Academic Planning, described the university as a unique citadel of learning with the best library because of the quality of academic materials there.

“We welcome you to Kwara state and KWASU in specific. As a university, we pride ourselves as having the best library in Africa.

“We have been able to achieve a lot by our own initiative and with the help from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

“We are happy to have you around and we will be glad to work with you,” he said.

As part of the AGM, NATOP members had embarked on a tour of the state capital, including a visit to the institution, as well as, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) all located in Ilorin, last Friday.