Emir of Kano, Runsewe, Others Endorse NANTA Eminent Persons Award

The royal seat of Kano emirate kingdom, over a century old and revered, will move to Abuja in great cultural splendor, come November 12,as Nanta unveils its very eminent industry achievers and role models .

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, have endorsed the Eminent Persons Award being organised by the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA). Eminent Persons Award, slated for November 12 in Abuja.

The Emir of Kano confirmed through his personal secretary that he will grace the occasion not only as the Royal Father of the Day but also as a lover of Nigerian cultural tourism and travel which NANTA represents and promotes.

The Emir who recently received in his palace the NANTA executive led by the President, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, on a courtesy visit, had assured the association he would partner with her team, to rebrand Kano as a culture, trade and tourism destination, adding that the promotion and marketing famous Kano Durbar will be left in the professional care of the association.

Alhaji Bayero, was also joyfully taken aback by NANTA’s nomination of Kano under his royal leadership as the most peaceful domain in Nigeria, and for making the hub of trans-Saharan trade route a home for all Nigerians and foreigners alike.

Mrs. Akporiaye said the presence of the Emir at the second edition of NANTA Eminent Persons Award, reflects the very inspiring acceptance of the values of the travel trade body and its commitment to ensure that industry achievers and role models are recognised so as to encourage others to put in their best to salvage our dear nation at a time like this.

“We want to thank his royal highness for identifying with us and for also accepting to be our Royal Father of the Day, a significant appearance and support which we shall never forget as individuals and as a group. It’s history made in the lifetime of the association,” she said.

Speaking shortly after receiving his certificate of nomination for strategically being at the behest of Nigerian cultural, tourism, arts and crafts promotion in Nigeria in the past two decades from President of NANTA, Runsewe who just returned to the country after an cultural evangelism tour of Ethiopia, where he inaugurated the Nigerian and Ethiopian friendship club, said the Eminent Persons Award is the Oscar of Nigeria tourism sector.

“’Madam Susan, I want to thank you and your association for this honour. NANTA did same to me four years ago for turning around NTDC, and again today, for the little we have done at NCAC. We shall be there to tell the world that NANTA is our pride,” he stated.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adeshina and Director General, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mallam Ado Yahuza, were nominated for the prestigious Media Hall of Fame and Exemplary Public Administrator to Watch award respectively.

At the official presentation of the nomination certificate to Adeshina in Abuja, NANTA President, Akporiaye explained that the newly introduced NANTA Media Hall of Fame, was a carefully thought out platform to record for posterity, the contributions of media professionals in Nigeria who supported the association and the corporate ideals which NANTA stands for, nothing that Adeshina as a former editor and President’s spokesman, has impacted positively on the affairs and growth of NANTA, and so deserved to be inducted into the NANTA Media Hall of Fame.

The choice of Yahuza as NANTA awardee according to Akporiaye, was because he brought the importance and desirability of Nigerian diverse cultural tourism attributes to the public domain, opening new vistas of opportunities for Nigerians, particularly the young persons whose knowledge of Nigerian history and culture, have been ambushed by the invasion of strange foreign cultures and habits.

Responding to their individual nominations, Adeshina disclosed his pleasant shock and surprise at his nomination to NANTA Media Hall of Fame, promising to remain steadfast and committed to the best media practices, adding that NANTA has shown exemplary leadership which is worthy of emulation by Nigeria trade bodies and associations. On his part, Yahuza said that culture has the capacity to unite Nigerians and promised to continue in his reform activities without let or hindrance.

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) was recognised as the Best International Air Transport Association (IATA) Training School in Nigeria.

The Director General of NIHOTOUR, Nura Kangiwa, Nihotour, said the award from NANTA is evidence of the Change of narratives about the foremost government vocational training school under his watch, adding that training and retraining of industry help practitioners, could only produce tested professionals.

Kangiwa, who was the immediate former Vice President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), North Central zone, said the expectations of industry practitioners for changes in NIHOTOUR was a huge burden but assured that the NANTA EMINENT Persons Award, zeroing on the achievements of NIHOTOUR, means that he has no option than to work, and work harder for the industry which must be regulated to check free entry regime into the sector.

The NANTA president also presented a certificate of nomination to Envoy Silk Road Hotel, Abuja as the Hotel to Watch.

The General Manager of Envoy Silk Road Hotel, Dewarld Kroger, said the hotel would partner with NANTA to sell its rooms and services, nothing that NANTA award will boost the morale of the workforce of the hotel who are trained to ensure guests satisfaction experience, which remains the premium expectations for a stay at the luxury hotel.

President NANTA disclosed that the Award overall mission is to celebrate industry achievers and role models, noting that this year’s Eminent Persons Award will be executed with the best tradition of excellence which the association is noted for in its 46years existence as the leading private sector body in Nigeria.

“We shall try to better the tradition, to unveil the champions of the industry, and related enterprises. Nothing shall be left to chance, we shall be clinical and treat our awardees, sponsors and visitors to the best hospitality offerings ever seen anywhere.”

NANTA Eminent Persons Award, comes up November 12 at the International Conference Center Abuja.