.By Frank Meke
” A LEADER TAKES PEOPLE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. A GREAT LEADER TAKES PEOPLE WHERE THEY DON’T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO BUT OUGHT TO BE ” == Rosalynn Carter.
Tuesday, last week, the new leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies ( NANTA) ran into a practical scenario of some of the unknown pressures usually experienced by leaders and appointees in government. The simulation encounter is the old federal secretariat address of the federal Ministry of Aviation and not at any airline ticket counter.
It was 3 pm. appointment with the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Mr Festus Keyamo ( SAN), which ran into a delay , the type that has characterised the flight delays in the Nigerian domestic aviation space.
Wait, the team must, as the Honourable Minister, was engaged with the National assembly, and if you must survive as a minister or government appointee, you dare not imagine a shadow boxing outing with the distinguished Senators or you run into the murky waters of zero budget.
While we waited, we took turns to entertain ourselves, laugh at ourselves, and trust these young turks in the Nigerian troubled aviaton downstream sector, particularly travel trade community led by Yinka Folami, every minute and second was deployed to dissecting the challenges facing the sector.
Over chilled bottles of Coca-Cola drinks and peanuts ( ground nuts) different scenarios, some emerging were given detailed insights and noted for deeper discussions and interrogation at some later dates. It was like a practical Master of Business Administration ( MBA) class.
In this group, you learn to stand sure to engage everyone depending on your strength. The nanta team that I know are core professionals who can hold their heads anywhere, intelligent, creative, and sagacious, without playing to the gallery. Sometimes, I wonder if they are really traders. Yes, these ones are street wise. They trade on Intel, unapologetically combustive advocates of fair play and equity in best global travel trade practices. Ask IATA!
Their academic backgrounds springs forth a rich resume unknown to those who may wish to square with them with patronising necessities. If nanta exco visits you, be sure to have your executive jotter and pen ready.
On this beat, the team knew that Festus Keyamo is a tested legal general and would subject their request, the call to check cross-border trading ecosystem to serious interrogation.
At some minutes past 6pm, the minister appeared, courtesies over, and the “judge” ( the minister) and the “litigants” ( Nanta exco) squared out. It was a thorough technical issue, and the minister proved he has learnt the aviation ropes well!
The minister tailed on the side of the evidence, no long story, just pure practical evidence, regional and global antecedents, after all, aviation business is a global affair, run through established patterns even though the Nigerian aviation politics is shrouded in mysteries.
Done in less than thirty minutes, not because the folami led nanta exco was not ready for a long engaging interface, but because the minister had a board meeting waiting in the wings. I wonder where he drew his strength from, maybe the long years at the bar. He had also laboured as a former labour minister, so it counted for his stay, focus, and tireless effort to carefully change the narratives of our aviation policy.
Pictures over, but the minister obviously has some other ideas. He is in love with the leadership qualities found in nanta, during the immediate past administration of the association led by Susan Akporiaye. In a country where we don’t place premium values on our leaders at different strata of our society, Keyamo took to enthroning a new direction. It takes a leader to know a leader! A lion to recognise a lioness!
Grabbing the right hand of Yinka Folami, the president of nanta, he pointed and also grabbed the left hand of Susan Akporiaye. I was wondering if it was a declaration of a context, two boxers, or wrestlers going for each other. No, no, no! The minister simply wished to encourage the new leadership of nanta, and no doubt Susan Akporiaye made a strong lasting impression on him and knowing the likes of Festus Keyamo, his character, reputation for being outspoken and intentional, it is certainly evident that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria , wanted to see same strength, vision and commitment during Susan Akporiaye Era, rob off on the new team in nanta led by irrepressible Yinka Folami, who is no push over and known amongst his numerous admirers as ” Professor “.
” Mr. President, I must congratulate you again on your recent election as nanta president, but you must beat Susan Akporiaye to the game. She is phenomenal, and I challenge you to do more than she has done. I understand she is still part of your exco, which is a good idea, but please make us proud as she has done, ” the Minister enthused.
Trust ” Professor”Yinka Folami. He told the minister to also help him impress on the delectable ex-president and industry amazon to continue to avail herself to the sector and nanta, particularly her deep wealth of experience and guidance.
Indeed, in many years to come, nanta, no doubt, will continue to shape the future of travel trade and tourism business in Nigeria and the members, certainly set to provide the future leaders that may change the narratives of the sector beyond aviation industry. Susan Akporiaye is still young and available, praying that Nigeria, just as Festus Keyamo, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, righlty observed and acknowledged, would find her worthy to contribute to national service.
