Mr Ikechi Uko displaying his award with Nigerian Guinness World record holder in longest cooking hours, Hilda Bassey at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, has honoured Mr Ikechi Uko, the organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Accra Weizo, Chinet Aviacargo Conference and publisher of atqnews.com among others with its Distinguished Fellowship Award.
Also honoured with NIHOTOUR Distinguished Fellowship Award, is Mr Gabe Onah, the Chairman Carnival Calabar Commission & Pioneer Tourism Advisor to the Cross Rivers State Government.
The duo were honoured for their outstanding and immense contribution to the development of hospitality and tourism sectors in Nigeria.
In this opening remarks at the 2023 Gastronomy Festival gala and award night, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General, NIHOTOUR explained that the awards were in recognition of the personalities who have made remarkable contribution toward tourism development in Nigeria.
Kangiwa noted that the awardees were honoured for their contribution towards the promotion and marketing of tourism destinations in Nigeria.
Other honoured with NIHOTOUR Fellowship award include:
Nanna Dashe Yakubu, Tourism Book Author and coordinator, Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, NTDA Jos, Mr. Oluwadunsin Oluwasuji, Tourism Promotion and Marketing Guru and Managing Editor of Lagoon Communications Ltd, Mr. Li Xuda, (Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China), Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, owner of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Tarek Khoury, Director Operations Eric Kayser and Dr Mrs Ngozi Onwudiwe, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
In the culinary school cooking competition, the 1st position went to Red Dish Chronicles, Masterminds Catering and Culinary institute came second while the 3rd Position went to Chef’s Academy.
On the NIHOTOUR outstanding awards,
Over-all best Campus 2022/2023 went to the Lagos Campus, Mrs Uche-Ibeabuchi Chinyere, the Coordinator of the Campus.
The best staff 2022/2023 went to Gemma Simon, the most dedicated staff 2022/2023 was won by Halidu Wakili.
The two-day event brought together stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sectors in the country including dignitaries from the Embassies and and those that came from abroad.
