By Onyeka Ezike
The Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) has announced plans to award distinguished individuals who have contributed to the development of tourism in Nigeria in what it tagged “Celebrating Institutional Memory and Legacy. The award will focus on Institutions and individuals who have played a huge role in the tourism industry. The event is scheduled to be held on the 23rd of October, at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking on Creative Nigeria, a cultural tourism program aired on Mainland 98.3 FM Lagos and hosted by award-winning journalists Frank Meke and Bunmi Bade Adeniji, the President of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), Okorie Uguru, said that the event was born out of the passion to reward and celebrate individuals and institutions who had contributed to tourism development in Nigeria, like the former Minister of Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, who served as the Tourism Minister under Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2004, and Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who served as the former Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture between 2018 – 2024.
He added, “We are looking at the tourism Industry and incidentally, Sheraton Hotel Lagos will be celebrating forty years (40 years) of refining the hospitality industry, from 1985 – 2025. It will provide us with the opportunity to look at the impact of the International hospitality brand on the development of tourism and the Nigerian economy in General.
He stressed the need for government support in the industry, stating that ANJET has enjoyed more support from some private sector and collaborative efforts from members, Sheraton and some private individuals within the tourism industry.
Okorie further added that ANJET has been in existence for over three decades, and members have played their role in reforming the association. He said, “ANJET cuts across every individual and Journalist that is involved in writing Tourism across the different media platforms in Nigeria, from the mainstream, newspapers, electronic media, and online Media. Our goal is to talk about Nigeria’s tourism and ways to move it forward.” He noted.
Some key dignitaries, including the former Minister of Tourism, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, and Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, former Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture. Otunba Runsewe will be honoured with the Nigeria Pillars of Tourism and Culture. Otunba Olusegun Runsewe will be awarded for his contributions to the development of tourism and cultural space in Nigeria.
Also, AJET will be celebrating and honouring Chief Abimbola Bode Thomas, and Mr Jamie Alade, Nigeria’s foremost Tour Operator, who started in 1977, one of the leading names in resort development in Nigeria, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who founded the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, and the Nigerian boatman who has contributed to Tourism and Maritime development in Nigeria, Ganiyu Tarzan Balogun, who is the CEO of Tarzan Marine Enterprises.
Okorie Uguru, who is also the Publisher of Africa Travel Herald, said that ANJET is like an archive to society, acting as the eye of society. He said, “What we do is to simply record as archivists, we take records, we keep memories, and we push them to society.”
He emphasized the role the Sheraton Hotel has played in the development of hospitality in Nigeria. He said, “Sheraton is the foremost brand in Nigeria. As of 1985, the number of International property brands in Nigeria was not so many, and many of them did not put their footprint to develop tourism and hospitality in Nigeria, but Sheraton took the risk, came in, and has done wonderfully well. This award is held annually, and what we tell Political office holders and individuals who have been contributing is that we are watching and we will reward your contributions to the industry. ” He noted.
Speaking at the sidelines of the program on the OminBus Boat that was launched by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), the representative of the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN), Chief Raymond Gold, said that the Lagos State Government has been making efforts to develop the waterways and integrate water transport into a multi-transport system, and WABOTAN has been part of the discussion on the OminBus and the Omi Eko Project which is in partnership with Agence franchise d Development (AFD) the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union.
Chief Raymond Gold said WABOTAN members need the support of the government to upgrade their craft and boat, although members have the capacity, but boat maintenance and upgrade require huge capital, and the best way to achieve this is to partner with the government.
“We train our members doing our programs, and we discuss strategy in our program, which is an annual event. With the removal of fuel subsidy, our boats have been on the water, and we have helped to reduce traffic in Lagos state. We encourage Lagosians to use the water because we have improved our safety measures.”