Tourism stakeholders in Nigeria have honoured Nigerian travel business consultant, ikechi Uko, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, with an art installation of the Naija Seven Wonders expedition at the National Museum in Lagos on Saturday.
Uko is a travel promoter, tourism development expert, media consultant, journalist and author.
He is also the organizer of Akwaaba African Travel Market, the first international travel fair in West Africa; Abuja Bantaba; and organizer, Accra Weizo and Port Harcourt Bantaba.
Naija7Wonders is a project put together by some Nigerian tourism promoters, led by Uko, to highlight and showcase the huge tourism resources in the country.
After an exhaustive search and public voting, the project team announced the 7 wonders of the Nigeria in 2012.
It was stated that these findings will boost tourism, as well as lead to the “recovery and greatness of the tourism industry in Nigeria.”
The Naija7wonders are: Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State, Sukur Heritage Site in Adamawa State, Osun- Oshogbo Groove, Kano Walls, Oke Idanre Hills in Ondo State, Benin Moat, Edo State and National War Museum, Umuahia, Abia State.
Special guests at the event include former Minister Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Seychelles,
Alain St. Ange; Wanda Ibru; High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, Mr Wendell Vincent Carlton De Landro; immediate past DG, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; Chairman, Cross River Carnival Commission, Gabe Onah; President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Susan Akporiaye and MD/CEO, Tour Brokers International Uloma Egbuna.
Others are COO, IBOM AIR, George Uriesi; Sen Florence Ita Giwa; NATOP President Imeh Udo; CEO Experts Travel Rwanda Fifi Rurangwa and former Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture and ARISE News Anchor Steve Ayorinde.
Where do I begin? 42 People contributed money to renovate the Nigerian National Musuem in My honour to mark my Birthday.
They organised a Suprise Party and brought my Friends from South Africa,Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Gambia and the Former Minister of Seychelles Alain St.Ange to Lagos for the Event.
I almost had a heart attack when the blindfold was removed. They decorated the walls of the National Musuems with Naija7wonders. They installed a huge African Cooking pot to signify my Role in Making JollofRice popular globally with the jollof wars I started with Ghana Tourism Authority in 2016. They covered the walls with my pictures. I can only say a big thank you to all the Associations represented and the people that contributed. God will reward all of you. More people are planning parties this week. I love you all.
Chioma Kalu
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