Farounbi To Chair Ibadan Travel and Tourism Expo As Adefope Will Receives Iconic Tourism Award

The much-anticipated maiden edition of the Ibadan Travel and Tourism Expo [ITTE] gathers momentum as organisers unveil speakers, exhibitors, and chairman of the Expo.

According to Amb. Taiwo and Kehinde OGUNTOYE, the Initiators of the Expo said the former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Amb. Yemi Farounbi is unveiled as the chairman while Sir Femi Adefope , the Chairman of GHI Assets will be decorated with Life Time Achievement Tourism Award at the two day Expo billed for Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd April at the newly opened Luxury De Signature Tower Hotel in Jericho area , Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.

The Ibadan Travel and Tourism Expo with the theme: maximizing tourism opportunities for sustainable development in Nigeria is a 2-day international travel roadshow and exhibition platform that aims to drive the sustainable tourism sector by bringing together buyers, consumers, airlines, travel techs, tourism/travel service providers, transport companies, hospitality value chain, government agencies, environmentalists, influencers and the media to review, network and discuss sustainable tourism development and trade deals in the travel environment.

According to the organisers,” Professor Wasiu Babalola, a Professor of Hotel Management and Tourism is expected to give the keynote address.  The famous Broadcaster and Deputy Director of Programs at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Niyi Dahunsi will anchor the Expo. The array of speakers at the event includes, Popular Broadcaster Edmund Obilo, Erudite International Current Affairs Analyst, Chief Jide Ojo, Former National President of NUJ, Prince Lanre Ogundipe, DG Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Amb. Wale Ojo Lanre will be handling the media matters in tourism promotion.

The roundtable discussion on hotel innovation and development will have as Panelists: Mr. Francis Akingbade, the Acting Managing Director UI Ventures, Chief Reuben Abib, the General Manager, Ife Grand Resorts & Leisure, Dr. Edward Akerele, the Consultant, De Signature Tower, Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, the Lead Consultant, Tojum Hospitality and Prof. Wasiu Babalola, Senior Vice President for Africa, Continent Worldwide Hotels.

The conservation and environmental roundtable session panellists include Dr. Goni Ibrahim Musa, the Conservator- General, Nigeria National Park Service, Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji, Chair, Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria [PCGN], Dr. Onoja Joseph Daniel, Director- General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation [NCF] and Prof. G.A Lammed, the Former Head of Department of Wildlife & Ecotourism Management, University of Ibadan.

The youth will have their take on developing their career in tourism at another panel discussion on building a career in the travel and tourism industry. The panellists for the session include Captain Kenneth Oudah Anate, Director of Study, Stay Up Aviation Institute of Technology [SUAIT], Miss Karamat Ajala, Director, Institute for Information, Arts & Cultural Development in Nigeria/American Corner, Ibadan, Dr. Olatokunbo John Dagunduro, President, Skal International Ibadan Club and Amb. Anago- Osho, Co-Founder, Association of History, Nature, and Culture Tour Guides-Nigeria.

The cultural aspect will have the following to discuss our Cultural Heritage Sites as panelists, Princess Folashade Adeyemi, CEO, Arewa House of Culture, Anago-Osho, Co-Founder, Association of History, Nature and Culture Tour Guides-Nigeria, Mrs Oriyomi Pamela Otuka, Curator National Museum of Unity, Ibadan and Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, Consultant Tojum Hospitality”.

The Ibadan Travel and Tourism Expo will climax with a dinner which serves as the 10th year anniversary of the popular tourism radio show, “Travel with the Twins” anchored by the Oguntoye Twin brothers.

The Nigeria National Park Service, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, GHi Assets, Business Travel Management, South African Airways, RwandAir, Ife Grand Resorts, Stay Up Aviation College among others will be exhibiting at the Ibadan Travel and Tourism Expo.

Source: Press Release