By Frank Meke.
The Umbrella body of registered tour operators in Nigeria changed guards yesterday in ilorin, the capital of kwara State, and elected Alhaja Bolaji Mustapha as the new president of the body
Incidentally, Mustapha was the chairperson of the 8th Annual General Meeting of the association in the ilorin and the immediate deputy national president of natop
Though she is not a dark horse in the race for leadership change, the taciturn beautiful lady was certainly the obvious choice of the members and the Board of Trustees to take over from ime udo, who led the association into new heights in the past two years, culminating in her premium industry relevance and appointment as senior special assistant on tourism to the governor of Akwa Ibom state. The Nigeria Association of Tour Operators ( Natop) was founded by late Matthew Ebaboje Dasilva in 1992.
Though there were no signs in the day of a possible change of guards, but the body language of some members of the association and the Board of Trustees betrayed the murmurings among the Tour care givers for a leadership change to rave up fire power by the association to open more opportunities for the passionate but economically struggling members.
Indeed, the full attendance of the Board of Trustees led by Nkereweum Onung ignited intelligence gatherings and inquisition about a new leadership narrative even though Ime udo, the outgoing President didn’t betray any emotions during her welcome address to the meeting cum conference attended by the wife of kwara state governor.
Uloma egbuna, the industry measuring and pioneering diva, and member Board of Trustees was in attendance and presented a road map position paper that may readdress the expectations and work ethos of members of the association.
Indeed, Mrs egbuna appearance and presence could be likened to the unveiling of a mysterious masquerade, further fueling the emergence of a new direction for natop.
Alhaji kabir Malan, another trustee of the association and respected voice in the industry who also chairs the Board of Trustees of Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria ( Atpn) was present, another alarm which further triggered a full deployment of my investigative skills.
Significantly the romp and realignment of the strained friendship between Nkereweum Onung and his former man friday, ikech uko, around the conference hall completely gave away the agenda to bring about a change in the association, a development only wisened eyes could see.
Though the Natop AGM lived up to its billings, it’s however, apparent that the elective process was shrouded in secrecy with the members not fully mobilized to participate and interrogate the values of change in leadership, particularly at a time like this in Nigeria where the private sector must wake up and give leadership to national cultural tourism aspirations.
Tourism Minister, lola Ade John attended the conference but didn’t witness the change of guards yesterday. Her presence was merely complimentary, not symbolic.
Other elected members of the new executive include, Ms Geraldine ito, Deputy president, Otunba Michael Balogun , General Secretary, Joy Alexander- moziegbe, Assistant secretary, Ogugua Anobili, Financial secretary, Odion Chigbufue: Tressurer, National Publicity Secretary, Onyeka okwudiri.
The association also elected Anago James Osho , vice president, south West and Mark Moore, vice president, North/ Federal capital Territory.
