.. As Benin markets culture, Vodoo at Akwaaba
The Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Gods Own Travel Agency, Gota International Group, Olanma Ojukwu, has lauded the participation of French-speaking West African countries at the recently concluded Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos.
Mrs. Ojukwu stated that with more French-speaking countries participating in Akwaaba African Travel Market, it means the barriers between the French and the English-speaking countries are gradually breaking and removed.
Ojukwu who stated this at the recently concluded Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos noted that in no distance time, these barriers
will no longer be there.
She pointed out that this year, she is seeing Gabon, Senegal, and Cameroun among other French-speaking West African countries participating for the very first time.
According to her, “this networking, these exchanges between these countries begin to make things easier because like the Gabon lady invited us to Gabon for their tourism program. So this visit will take us all to the next level. And in no distance time, we will no longer have the barriers we were experiencing”.
The CEO of Gods Own Travel Agency, Gota International Group added that this year, nine of them came from Benin Republic, both hotels and tour operators.
She said Benin is that West African country that has decided to make its culture and religion (voodoo)
top-notch, sellable in the world.
She noted that Benin is called the cradle of voodoo, stressing that black African religion is still being celebrated.
Ojukwu explained that: “That’s why we have the voodoo days which we celebrate every first week of January.
So all that and many more we have come to sell at the Akwaaba”.
She disclosed that some months ago, she brought some Nigerian Tour Operators to Benin under the leadership of NATOP to
experience Benin for three days which has in return brought the general manager of Azalai Hotel to Akwaaba.
She emphasised that: “Azalai Hotel is one of the two hotels that hosted Nigerian delegates.
Today, she comes to exhibit here because she has a lot of Nigerian tour operators bringing tourists from Nigeria and coming to visit Benin”.
Ojukwu stated further that a lot of businesses are now going on between the two countries simply because tour operators of Nigeria visited Benin.
She observed that the collaboration between Nigeria and Benin will grow.
According to her: “The Benin Tourism, that is Benin Government sent three delegates this 2026. We have three people from the Ministry, they call them Benin Tourism. So the Benin Government sent three delegates to find out why they have to come and exhibit”.
She maintained that: “This collaboration so far has gone beyond just the stakeholders, the actors and
has gotten into the ears of the government. And that means that the policies around this also will begin to change and that will further enhance the relationship that we have in both countries”.
