Personality in Focus
IPADA: The President is Just Being Nice
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By Frank Meke
In the Nigerian tourism space, the Federal Government has always been nice to the sector. They usually pat us on the back; good boys, they chorus, you all are doing well!
The industry, the cultural tourism sector, is not only being “managed and accommodated” as an orphan, It has always been visited with expired politicians seeking just any place to fluent their borrowed agbada or a place for jobs for the boys.
During the military era, cultural tourism sector was dubbed a mere “preferred” sector, meaning it’s time and season is on hold until a more better and serious economic players like oil, commerce, transportation, banking and aviation sectors have been properly situated, grounded and funded before Nigeria can bet its assets and strength on the “come and enjoy” platforms of cultural tourism.
As it’s at the federal level, our state governments, which are mere copy cats of the confusion at the centre, takes the deceptive shenanigans to a mundane level, and in most states, treats the business as a special purpose vehicle of corruption.
If you have been around in this sector, it would amount to a story retold that some so called state commissioners of culture, or tourism and some fanciful appendages, hardly have the ears of their governors, with some operating from offices( shanties) not befitting even pigs.
Let us not go back in history as we are not known to stay long on printed words but on figures, particularly when such figures( money) empower our vanities. In the past eight years, we have danced from one confusion to another with both the federal government and states, doing their magics in the name of tourism development.
The eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari basically gleaned the hairy scalp of the sector with a Mohammed that chose the valley than the mountain top of tourism.
We laboured hard to have the then president who was buffeted by insecurity in the nation to publicly identify with the sector and up our global integrity ranking.
The larger number of about 200 million Nigerians took to outbound visitations, putting pressures on our foreign exchange reserves, ignoring our goddamme forsaken tourism sites and festivals for packaged lollipops of Europe and the sweet wine valleys of south Africa.
Foreign embassies were besieged by holiday hungry Nigerians, with many of them willing to escape to Alsaka or any strange corner of the earth in order to have a foreign visa stamp on their maligned travel passport.
Just like in the aviation sector in Nigeria, where foreign airlines dominate our airspace without a reciprocal presence elsewhere, Nigerians swelled the tourism arrival and expenditure figures of most countries in the world while we shouted redemption from our corners.
Back home, we have more Nigerians telling stories of Spanish adventurers and explorers than the history of Badagry or Opobo. We forgot that tourism is about telling stories of nations and peoples, and trust our very miserable ministers and commissioners, who are usually at the behest of foreign trips to understudy civilizations which our ancestors bequeathed to the world through arts and crafts. The ancient Benin kingdom dates back in centuries before the marauding colonialists came plundering our huge cultural tourism assets. Do our children know that!
Evidently, today, and after making billions of dollars out of our ancestral heritage, the “wise men” thieving descendents of our troublers from Europe and America are now falling over themselves to return the loots and since we don’t have records of what was actually stolen from us, particularly from the Benin kingdom, we now have a concerned governor who has refused to pay the Ogba Zoo 36 million naira arbitration judgment awarded in favour of the zoo management over six years ago, now fighting the reverred Oba of Benin over the custody of the returned looted artifacts.
Just as the stories and history of our plundered cultural and natural resources are steeped in deep mystery, the history of slavery and socioeconomic impact is still not fully told.
Late Nigeria business mogul and pro democracy advocate, moshood kashimawo Abiola deployed his huge financial muscle and international connection in the 90’s to seek reparations cost to Africa, based on the very damaging plundering in human history by white colonialists through slavery and neo colonialism.
Those who love printed words, history, and traditions of the African black person should go read up the Abuja proclamation.
It was a painful, tears bearing story of how these white beings, damaged the lives of Nigerians and Africans whom they herded into ships and sold as slaves in America and all parts of Europe and even in the Arabian peninsula.
The late Abiola built integrity around the quest for reparations through the Organisation of African unity( OAU), now known as the African union ( AU) but we the black nations flunderred because we have a different story line to the reparation agenda.
Like I said earlier, we won’t waste so much ink on reparation but won’t leave the subject matter without drawing attention to the history of slavery through the shahel deserts. The story of slavery in Nigeria , no doubt, is dominated by the brutish and heartless human merchandise through the Atlantic waters of Nigeria. The desert variation is equally worth mentioning.
Recently, there has been some great noise about an “IPADA” ( home coming ) tourism project tied around the slave trade history of Nigeria. Our tourism minister, Mrs lola Ade John, is so upbeat about it and has shuttled between lagos and Abuja to push it as a Nigerian tourism story.
As usual, the process as much as it may bear fruit to our quest to reinvent our cultural tourism narratives, fell short of enjoying nationwide integrity support because it was still tied to apron strings of the initiator and founder.
First, in our complex nation as Nigerians and with each each region and people with different and diverse narratives of the slave trade, IPADA, which is a Yoruba word for ( welcome or return ( home), will have a tough buy in by other Nigerians from a Minister who is Yoruba, a founder, ( Yoruba) a president who is also Yoruba!.
Indeed, the haste to which the project itself was pushed forward without defining the parameters of the IPADA agenda within the complexities of the slave trade and cultural history of Nigeria and the tourism content gives it away as a castle in the air.
For those who may take to name calling, IPADA should have been clearly defined as a tourism agenda, focal to projecting, and attracting the Yoruba diaspora, which is one of the best documented and profiled Nigerian sub nation found across West Africa, Brazil and even in the United States, with their own colonies patterned after the traditional and cultural ecosystem as found in modern Nigeria.
At the villa introduction of the IPADA agenda, our president was nowhere to be found, and that rankled me. Is it a sign that the project does not have enough sociopolitical and economic values? Is it shortsighted on hosting venue and security integrity? Where were the governors, too busy for the IPADA agenda? Even if other state governors outside the southwest did not see the larger picture of the tourism content of IPADA, those from the south West nko?
For the first time, I would want to differ on the president absence at the event right within his expansive office, and I am sure the few diplomats , particularly from West Africa, noticed too.
When a father invites guests to the wedding ceremony of his son in his own house, not a rented public facility, he must show up even if he is too busy with his farm works because he is the chief celebrant and must let his guests and in-laws know that his son is close to his heart.
I am an unrepentant admirer of President Ahmed Tinubu political sagacity. His support to our media family is legendary, and I had expected the same integrity support and presence for the IPADA project even though there may be some noticeable shortcomings which can be corrected once the project gains traction.
To simply commend otunba wanle Akinboboye is not just good enough. There was nowhere in the president ” speech ” promising financial muscles to project.
Every tourism project is very expensive, I mean very expensive, so to merely provide the cosy facilities at the villa without the president and even his vice president showing up, tells me that our cultural tourism economy is still an orphan.
The president should take a second look at the IPADA agenda and give it a national outlook. Wanle Akinboboye has provided the ingredients deserving a national cultural tourism road map, but it takes the financial might and international muscle of the president, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to attract the attention of the world to Nigeria.
That is my take, except the minister, Mrs lola Ade John, just wanted to build a castle in the air with the IPADA villa adventure or maybe, maybe and maybe!
Basketball icon, Hakeem Olajuwon will, this week feature on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, a 30 – minute magazine programme sponsored by telecommunications company, Globacom.
The twelve-time NBA All-Star,and two-time NBA champion will, in a chat with CNN’s Larry Madowo shares his inspiring journey from Nigeria to the United States, where his extraordinary talent earned him the iconic nickname “The Dream.”
The 7-foot center who discovered basketball in 1978 at the Muslim Teachers’ College, Lagos was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on January 21, 1963 later relocated to the United States in the early 1980s to play college basketball for the University of Houston Cougars.
Olajuwon’s professional career launched when the Houston Rockets selected him as the first overall pick in the legendary 1984 NBA draft, which also featured top basketballers like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton.
Beyond his historic club career, he won an Olympic gold medal with the United States national team in 1996 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. His outstandibg career secured him inductions into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.
Olajuwon was further celebrated on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in October, 2021. He retired as the league’s all-time leader in blocked shots (3,830), remaining one of only four players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double and the absolute leader in 5×5 games.
African voices comes up on DSTV Channel 401 this Saturday at 12:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. (West African Time), with repeats scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday at 4:00 a .m.and 6:45 p.m., Tuesday at 6:45 p.m., and continuing next week on Saturday at 12:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., Sunday at 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Monday at 4:00 a.m..
The President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Dr. Yinka Folami, has commended the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and its Director General, Dr. Ola Awakan, for putting together an impressive outing for Nigeria at the just concluded WTM London 2026, held at ExceL London between November 3 and 5, 2026.
Speaking on behalf of NANTA, the umbrella body for travel agencies in Nigeria, Dr. Folami said the NTDA’s outing was not just impressive, it was historic, it was dignified, it was Nigeria at its best.
Dr. Folami, who was represented in London by NANTA’s First Deputy President, Mustapha Mohammed, leading a high-powered NANTA delegation, with NANTA as the only association with a dedicated presence at the NTDA stand at WTM London, said he watched with pride as NTDA led Nigeria’s participation, with the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had commended Awakan for his immersive storytelling, collaboration and innovation in his first year in office.
He said: “On behalf of NANTA, I want to commend the Director General of NTDA, Dr. Ola Awakan, for putting together an impressive outing for Nigeria at WTM London. He did not just take Nigeria to London, he took Nigeria back to the world. After years of absence, after years of invisibility, Nigeria was seen, Nigeria was heard, Nigeria was engaged. The NTDA stand was a true national showcase. The storytelling was compelling. The partnerships were strategic. The visibility was real. This is what leadership looks like. This is what commitment looks like. And NANTA is proud to have stood side by side with NTDA in London.”
Dr. Folami noted that Nigeria’s participation at WTM 2026 enabled the country to present its tourism assets to a global audience, raising the profile of key destinations and products while opening new market possibilities, advancing collaboration, innovation and storytelling in promoting Nigeria’s tourism potential.
The NANTA President was emphatic: NANTA’s support for NTDA is not a one-off, it is a commitment.
“I want to assure Dr. Awakan and the entire NTDA that NANTA under my leadership will continue to support his leadership of NTDA. We will always partner with NTDA and other government tourism agencies to harness, develop, grow and market Nigerian tourism assets and destinations. That is our mandate. That is our promise. Government cannot do it alone. Private sector cannot do it alone. But together, government and private sector can put Nigeria where she belongs – on the world map, and on the world market.”
“We handed over in 2024 because we believe the goal is not who owns Nigeria’s stand, but that Nigeria has a stand. And now that NTDA has taken up the baton with such excellence, NANTA will stand beside NTDA – wherever Nigeria needs us, we will be there.”
In a special tribute, Dr. Folami appreciated Elizabeth Agbola, Founder and CEO of NTT Global Destinations, who worked hand in hand with NTDA to birth the return of Nigeria to the global tourism trade event.
“I want to specially appreciate our sister, Elizabeth Agbola, who worked hand in hand with Dr. Awakan to birth this return. Behind every successful outing, there are silent workers, there are bridge builders, there are people who make calls, and who encourage support for greater good. Elizabeth is one of them.
Dr. Folami prayed for greater visibility for Nigeria in international tourism expositions across the world.
“My prayer is that this WTM will not be a one-off. My prayer is that Nigeria will be at FITUR in Madrid, at ITB in Berlin, at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, at WTM in London, every year, with a bigger stand, with a bigger story, with bigger results. Visibility is not vanity. Visibility is business. If you are not seen, you are not sold. And Nigeria must be seen. Nigeria must be sold. May God give NTDA, NANTA, and all of us, the grace to sustain this momentum.”
The NANTA President also called on other players and associations to support government efforts to promote tourism in Nigeria.
“I am calling on all other players, all other associations – FTAN, NATOP, ATPN, hoteliers, tour operators, airlines, state tourism boards – let us support government efforts to promote tourism in Nigeria. Let us stop grumbling. Let us stop competing for who owns Nigeria. Let us compete for who serves Nigeria better. Government has done its part at WTM. Now we must do our part. Let us bring our products, let us bring our packages, let us bring our investments, and let us make Nigeria the destination of choice in Africa.”
Finally, Dr. Folami commended NANTA members and all stakeholders who came out in numbers to support NTDA and Nigeria’s return to WTM.
“To our NANTA members who travelled to London, who committed financial support to NANTA, who paid their way, who manned our stand, who marketed Nigeria with passion, I say thank you. To our NANTA BOT Chairman Alhaji Aminu Agoha, supported by BOT Member Alhaji Kabir Maiwada, who visibly graced the event with their support and presence, I say thank you, and To all stakeholders, FTAN, NATOP, AITEC World, the media, the diaspora community in the UK who stormed our pavilion, I say thank you. You came out in numbers to support NTDA and Nigeria’s return to WTM. You proved that when Nigeria calls, her children answer. This victory belongs to all of us.”
Dr. Folami concluded with a message of hope: “Nigeria is back. And by the grace of God, Nigeria is here to stay. NANTA will always partner with NTDA. NANTA will always put Nigeria first. That is not just our slogan. That is our legacy.”
Personality in Focus
Khaira Bala Emerges Winner of 16th UBA Foundation Essay Competition, Gets N15m Grant
Khaira Bala emerges winner of16th UBA Foundation Essay Competition, wins N15m
Khaira Ojima Bala of Metro International School, Abuja, has been crowned as Nigeria’s top secondary school essayist for 2026, emerging as the winner of the 16th edition of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition
Khaira, 15, was announced as the winner during the grand finale of the competition, where she received a N15m educational grant to study at any university in Africa. The event was held on Tuesday at UBA House, Marina, Lagos, and had a large audience which included finalists, parents, students, teachers and judges.
An elated Bala dedicated the award to her parents. “I am so happy right now. My parents have sacrificed so much for my education, and this award belongs to them as much as it belongs to me,” she said. “I also want to thank the UBA Foundation for believing in young people like me and giving us a platform to share our ideas.”
Unwanabasi Otobon Udom of Topfaith International Secondary School placed second, receiving N10 million, while Flourish Chibunumoma Ndamzi of University of Port Harcourt Women Association International Secondary School came third, receiving N7.5 million.
God’sfavour Ezekiel Udo of Federal Government Girls College, Ikot Obio Itong, and Uchenna Olivia Anyanwu of Coral Impacts International School, Abuja, came 4th and 5th, receiving N5 million and N3.5 million, respectively.
The 20 finalists emerged from over 15,000 entries submitted by senior secondary school students across Nigeria, as they wrote on the topic: “No nation can develop without food security. How can Nigeria deal with this problem?”
They also had the opportunity to be part of a one-day writing boot camp with the judges.
This year’s grants total N41 million, an 82% increase compared to the N22.5 million grant awarded last year, following the Foundation’s expansion of the number of winners from three to five as well as an increase in the value of each award.
All the 20 finalists also received several consolation prizes, including modern laptops to aid with their homework and research work. Their UBA accounts were also funded with N20,000 each as a token of appreciation from the bank’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba.
Speaking at the event, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, told the 20 finalists that they were all winners and urged them to see their selection as proof of what hard work and curiosity can achieve.
“You were selected from more than 15,000 students, and you earned this place through your hard work, your curiosity and your determination. We do this because we believe in the future of this continent, and the best investment we can make in that future is in our youth,” Alawuba said. “This is corporate social responsibility, but it goes beyond that. UBA is more than a bank; it is an institution that plays a great role in the future of Africa. How can we say the future is Africa if our young people are not the ones driving it?”
Alawuba explained that the higher grants were a response to rising costs. “As inflation increases and it becomes more difficult to see a child through school, we have raised the amounts to make sure these students get to school. For us, that is important,” he said.
Alawuba also noted that the Foundation would consider writing workshops for participating schools as the competition grows, to build competence, confidence and critical thinking among students.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, who thanked parents, teachers and the judges for their support, described education as the surest investment in Africa’s future.
“Over 16 editions, we have watched our finalists go on to excel in universities and careers across the world, and that is the impact we set out to achieve,” Atta said. “So far we have spent over N3bn on this competition in the past 16 years and increasing the number of winners and the value of the grants means more young people can now pursue a university education without the burden of cost. We will keep strengthening the competition so that it continues to reward original thinking.”
The UBA Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of UBA. The National Essay Competition, which began in Nigeria in 2011, now runs in other African countries where the Bank operates, alongside the Foundation’s work in education, healthcare, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
