Bantaba honours 100 tourism patriots

In its fourth edition, which coincides with the centenary year of Nigeria, the only tourism, travels, hospitality and allied tourism industry networking and speed-dating B2B platform, Abuja Bantaba, has planned to trail the blaze in the 2014 show.
It will be recalled that the first and second edition did not only create regional speed-dating avenue for the West African tourism market, but also built a formidable umbrella to showcase the strength and place of Africa as the next global destination in terms of products and services.
The 2014 centenary version, slated for the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers, is bringing Nigeria’s tourism icons together to celebrate and honour genuine stakeholders, promoters and practitioners who have, in one time or the other left mark in the sands of tourism through different development and promotional efforts.
Subsequently, the world famous Carnival Calabar, known as the biggest street party in Africa, will showcase to audience at the fourth edition of Abuja Bantaba, the meeting event for travel professionals on April 25.
Cross River State has led the tourism promotion business in Nigeria, using the carnival as its pivot, drawing participation from all over the world and establishing the carnival as a must watch event in Africa. For most people who cannot go to Calabar in December, Abuja Bantaba is the opportunity to see this world famous spectacle play outside of Calabar
As the world celebrates 100 years of aviation, Abuja Bantaba will be celebrating 100 years of growth and development of travel business in Nigeria and the carnival is the biggest draw for the event. Abuja Bantaba will celebrate the pioneers, the exceptional, innovators and the legends of the travel business, some of whom had never been recognised before.
Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, one of the pillars of integration and growth of the country was the transport system built initially on the back of the North –South rail network which now include, road, air, riverside and pipeline movement.
The modern Nigeria is built on an integrated transport system that carries millions of people around the country, over 14 million air travellers through 22 official airports, aviation was the last to join the rail, road and river travel in Nigeria.
The personalities carefully drawn from both core and allied tourism and travel sector, based on their immense contribution to tourism, include Audu Bako, former governor of Old Kano State, seen as one of the greatest tourism visionaries in Nigeria, along with Dr Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State.
Other pioneers in aviation include Chief Igbinedion of the famous Okada Air, the first private major airline in Nigeria; Sir Louis Ojukwu of Ojukwu Transport; Chief Ubajiaka of Izuchukwu Transport and Austin Ilodibe of the famous Ekene Dili Chukwu.
In addition, frontline hospitality and tour operators will be honoured along with the first male and female pilots and the Nigerian who invented the popular Chapman drink.
According to the organiser of Abuja Bantaba, “the annual travel event organised by Akwaaba Travel Market in Abuja, is a one-day speed-dating event at Abuja Sheraton Hotel, in its fourth edition, to celebrate with Nigeria on its centenary anniversary.
“As part of our centenary, we seek to honour the best of Nigeria 100 travel companies selected as the leading travel organisations in Nigeria and the list of 100 top hotels.
“To this end, a special edition of our annual magazine, Travellers Yearbook, will be launched.”
Ikechi Uko said the publication would include a compilation of 100 Nigerians that had made impact in the development of tourism and travel in Nigeria’s history and the top 100 organisations at the forefront of travel business today in Nigeria.
“The publication and the listed organisations and people will be honoured at the 12th Travellers Award ceremony in Abuja on April 25,” Uko added.