Photo Caption:
President/CEO Sabre West Africa and President, Aviation Safety Round Table (ASRT), Dr. Gbenga Olowo,assisted by NANTA president, Mrs Susan Akporiaye presenting award of joint winner best travel medium online to the publisher of Nigerian Franknews, Mr Franklin Ihejirika at the induction of 12 travel and tourism Journalists into NANTA Hall of Fame in Lagos recently.
The president of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies, NANTA , Mrs Susan Akporiaye, has lauded the contribution of travel media in development of travel and tourism industry in Nigeria.
Speaking during the recent induction of 12 travel and tourism Journalists into NANTA Hall of Fame at Golfview Hotel Ikeja Lagos, Mrs. Akporiaye said the induction is the expression of love NANTA has for the travel media.
She disclosed that NANTA will later on dedicate a room in its secretariat like a museum for the Media Hall of Fame as a mark of honour for the travel media.
NANTA president said the body will be inducting one or two more Journalists into the media hall of fame every year as the case maybe.
Mrs. Akporiaye noted in many years to come, children of the inductees could visit the NANTA secretariat to see their parents’ works to appreciate their contribution to the sector.
“Our Media Hall of Fame is an expression of our appreciation and love to the Nigerian travel media. We at NANTA cannot confidently boast that our years of struggles and prosperity were a process of our strength alone.
“The travel media was with us all the way and the Media Hall of Fame, introduced by my administration, will, henceforth, form the fulcrum of our relationship and become a permanent feature of the history of NANTA, she said.
Speaking also, the Chairman Board of Trustees of NANTA and Managing Director Touchdown Travels, Mr Dayo Adeola thanked the media for always supporting NANTA.
He said before now, the public use to see the travel agents as touts in the industry.
Adeola said all that has now changed as NANTA is today seen as professionals.
Adeola said this would not have happened without the active support of the travel media.
In his remarks, the President/CEO Sabre West Africa and President, Aviation Safety Round Table (ASRT), Dr. Gbenga Olowo, lauded the travel media for their professionalism in reporting the industry.
Elder Olowo applauded NANTA president for being resilient and for being innovative.
He commended the Mrs Akporiaye for its recent Eminent Persons Award in Abuja where the body performed excellently well.
Apart from the induction, award were also presented to the best travel Journalists in Print, Radio and online categories.
Franklin Ihejirika (Franknews), Abel Orukpe (Abel News,) Taiye Olayemi of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) emerged joint winners in the online category.
Chinedu Eze (Thisday), Wale Olapade (Nigerian Tribune) and Wole Shadare of New Telegraph Newspapers, emerged joint winners in the print category while Nosa Osula-Aituamen (Radio Nigeria) and Jordan Radio emerged joint winners, Radio category.
Those inducted into the NANTA Hall of Fame include: Franklin Ihejirika (Franknews), Dr. Wole Oyebade of The Guardian, Nosa Osula-Aituamen (Radio Nigeria), Andrew Iro-Okungbowa, Wole Shadare (New Telegraph), Abel Orukpe (Abel News), Chinedu Eze (Thisday), Segun Koiki (Daily Independent), Ifeoma Okeke (Businessday) Wale Olapade (Nigerian Tribune), Frank Meke of The Sun and Taiye Olayemi of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
