Personality in Focus
Opinion: NTDA Act and Cockcrow at Dawn
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By Frank Meke.
Nigerian Tourism Development Authority act, which repealed the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act, CAP N137, laws of the Federation, is deceptive, a gift of a tiger tail and bears a necromancer stamp of intent.
First, let us interrogate the sponsor of the bill, one Honourable Jimoh Olajide, a supposedly unknown quantity in our tourism space and no doubt could put his name to a bill which negates all known democratic process and engagements .
When and where did this Honourable seek our input into his bill and I must wonder aloud what achievements trails this “representative” of the tourism people of Nigeria?
Since, the elections are just few days away, Representative Olajide, must be assumed to have a constituency mandate protective of his voters interest and investment in tourism and except, he was allegedly Procured as a “Special purpose vehicle” to pursue this “Authority” bill, now an act of the law, Honourable Jimoh Olajide must then be a tourism busy body.
In general terms, this NTDA Act, is all about Foluronsho Coker. It typifies his fears, militarism, domineering attitude and irritations to second opinion.
Since, his appointment in 2015, his tenure in this strategic government tourism platform, had witnessed the most volatile and unbelievable presence of forceful and strange attempts to dominate, and subject the workforce to his laid back administrative template, and to the private sector, he unsuccessfully fought wars and still fighting to make them his Yes men and slaves. His hatred against the organised tourism press, which he fought unsuccessfully to split their ranks in connivance with industry low bellies, is evidential.
Coker sat back, ignored all known engagement and collaborative ethics, swift to call tourism associations and groups in the sector, digital morons, yet clearly the godfather of ignorance, double speak and anti tourism development agent.
This act which is ravagingly a Coker opium, negates all known tourism growth expectations,merely fanciful, deeply rooted in theugist ideology, clever by half and a nail to the heart of an industry, begging to be set free to contribute to national socioeconomic development and job creation.
The repealed act is a well thought out document, a Corporation, ( cooperation) tailored towards working with industry operators to achieve set goals, powering collaborations with all segments of the diverse ecosystem of the industry to produce something together and achieve shared goals and values.
To Coker, the civilian military general at the Ntdc, now NTDA, his cocky frame abhors working with others to achieve anything, no wonder he failed in eight years, with nothing to show as tourism growth and development except his Authority Act, which gives him absolute power to circumvent the 2013 Supreme Court ruling which empowers the Nigerian federating states to take their tourism future into their own hands.
Authority and collaboration, or as his Procured Act puts it, “Alliances” with states, are directly opposite in intents and expectations.
While under the repealed act, states and local governments have ” Ownership Authority” over tourism sites, Hospitality and Tourism services, Coker’s act, dwells on punitive and political Authority, certainly fronting an alliance to subject other stakeholders to his whims and caprices.
Coker has never hidden his intention to become the undisputed Nigerian tourism lord of the minor, with ntdc in eight years reduced to his animal farm, its budget releases and various government material interventions deployed as he wills and so fancied.
Authority can be defined as power to force and influence opinion, to command subordinates ( the states and private sector) to unitary actions and not collaborative efforts.
Authority as evidenced in Coker’s act is to compel obedience, to set up a board not answerable to voters interest, a board composition which did not specify certain membership organisations such as “culture and tourism”, but quick to list detailed names of federal ministeries and agencies outside the core pictures of the industry.
The functions of the Authority clearly indicates also the double speak of the sponsors, to ” regulate with states( Alliances) and if such states refuses to obedietise, punitive measures are applied.
A rundown on the Authority’s powers to accreditation and form Alliances of Tourism Enterprises, are simply carrot induced, targeting a sole pander to exclusively grade and classify tourism Enterprises in the country, circumventing established Supreme Court ruling of 2013 between lagos state government and federal government ( ntdc).
To incentify the” Alliance”, the Authority will pay off obedient states, with privileges and and benefits as maybe ” determined ” from time to time, such as mundane unwto unexplained status and recognition, unspecified fiscal relief and tax exemptions, customs duty exemptions and eligibility for financial incentives, grants and interest loans from a Tourism Development Fund, which birth pang process, may oil controversy to scuttle the agenda.
It is indeed worrisome how states empowered by Supreme Court ruling and so have authority to run their hospitality and culture tourism enterprises grading, accreditation and classification opportunities, will fall for this cheap carrots assumed benefits from Coker’s Authority act.
Under this administration, there were many of such carrots, some domiciled at various ministries and to which ntdc under Foluronsho Coker, failed to activate and deploy to irrigate speedy recovery and growth of both states and private sector tourism growth expectations. During and after Covid pandemic, Coker was silent and never lent a voice to efforts to raise bail out funds to a ravaged and bleeding tourism entrepreneurs in Nigeria, and suddenly woke up to Tourism Development Fund.
The additional and incidental powers sought and to be executed by Coker’s Authority, is pedestrian and self effacing, impostive.( 15) “the Authority shall carry any undertaking which appears ( subjective interpretation) to the Authority to be necessary for the promotion and development of the industry” ( *Even if the stakeholders are in disagreement*)
A tour operating company ( 16a) by the Authority, is monopolistic and at variance to the yearnings of private sector tourism practitioners,who are poles in advantage to run the business, grow jobs sustainably than an Authority octopus than
the
“Authority” octopus features only in six geopolitical zones, a recipe to a big fall like Humpty Dumpty.
Though I concede that a Convention and Visitors Bureau by the Authority, may help Nigeria’s tourism sound bite abroad, particularly in bidding for international events to be hosted by Nigeria, it however beats me hollow why Coker could not fly one single local tourism exhibition and convention to the glory of Nigerian tourism in eight years.
In political science and sociology, Public Authority as sought by this NTDA act, has history and usually popular during economic depression, desired to accelerate opportunities for development but ours in Coker’s Authority is mere power grab effort, to circumvent constitutional provisions and empower the individual ( DG of NTDA), autocraticising an industry best captured and developed through collaborations.
Coker’s Authority Alliances platform is suspect, unpatriotic, and a danger to Nigerian cultural tourism economy, now and in the future.
In all sense of due review, the repealed ntdc act, is far more attractive, workable instrument than NTDA act, which could be likened to an excuse to avoid tourism introspection, engagement, fairness, equality and justice.
Coker by nature hates intellectual engagement, and arrogant to superior opinion, brash, all knowing, possessive, and irritative to democratic ethos.
His mind set, ingenious rascality and disregard to norms which engenders cooperation, collaboration and development in tourism, are clearly encapsulated in the NTDA Act. And as he would want the simplistic and unassuming to believe, he ( Coker) is not an autocratic and power monger. Truly, Coker is not a democratic, neither republican, reasons he failed in eight years of a life time to make tourism impact in Nigeria.
Professor Kamene Okonjo, a renowned sociologist, women’s rights advocate and mother of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has passed on at the age of 96.
Okonjo, who was also the matriarch of the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Delta State, died on Friday.
Her death was announced on Sunday in a statement issued by the Palace Secretary of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, on behalf of the royal family.
The late professor was the wife of the immediate past traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku, Obi (Professor) Chukwuka Okonjo, with whom she was married for 66 years.
She was also the mother of the reigning monarch, Obi (Dr.) Ifechukwude Anishi Okonjo II, and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The royal family described her death as a significant loss to the kingdom, citing her contributions to academic scholarship, women’s rights and social development.
An internationally recognised sociologist, Okonjo devoted much of her professional life to academic research and advocacy for women’s empowerment, earning recognition within and beyond Nigeria.
“An internationally recognised and foremost sociologist, Professor Kamene Okonjo distinguished herself through her outstanding academic accomplishments, intellectual contributions and lifelong advocacy for women’s rights and empowerment,” the statement said.
The family noted that her influence extended beyond academia, particularly through her commitment to advancing opportunities for women and promoting education.
It also acknowledged her role within the traditional institution of Ogwashi-Uku, where she remained an influential member of the royal household.
Beyond her academic career, Okonjo was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose family ties spanned several generations.
“While we mourn her passing, we celebrate a life exceptionally well lived,” the royal family stated.
The statement extended condolences to the reigning monarch, Okonjo-Iweala and other surviving children, including Dr. Njideka Okonjo-Udochi, Prince Onyema Okonjo and Prince Chichi Okonjo.
It also acknowledged the deceased’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other members of the extended royal family.
The family urged residents of Ogwashi-Uku to honour her memory and reflect on her contributions to scholarship, women’s advancement and the community.
Details of her funeral arrangements were not disclosed in the statement.
By Eric Elezuo
Much as everyday in the life of Ogun State-born multi-billionaire, Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, is a day of giving, his birthday, which fall in the month of October, has become monumental because it defines generosity, philanthropism and giving on a whole new level. And this year as the lottery merchant turns 91 is no exception. He is reported to hand over a standard facility valued at over $600,000 to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) as his birthday token, and contribution to the security development of Lagos State, and to an extent, the country.
Adebutu, who is the founder of Premier Lotto, has handed the Lagos State the new multi-storey building headquarters he paid for in full, along with five patrol vehicles for security operations, a performance Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described as ‘a remarkable gesture’.
Adebutu’s benevolence freed the Trust Fund from nearly 10 years of operating from rented and squating offices. The edifice I situated highbrow Ikeja Central Business District. The construction took the philanthropist just 10 months to complete – from groundbreaking to handing over. It was a miracle of some sort, and a proof that that when Adebutu sets out to achieve something, it is good as done.
The edifice has since been named the Sir Kesington Adebutu Security Trust Fund Building. It would be recalled that only recently, the billionaire businessman gave similar building to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ). In 2025, he completed and handed over the Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Research Centre to the Lagos State government.
Responding during the commissioning and handing over ceremony of the building, Adebutu, who had vowed to continue to do good till his last breath, noted as follows: “I, therefore, regard my modest contribution to this project not merely as philanthropy but as a sacred obligation of gratitude to our Almighty Creator.”
He described the building as “an enduring testament to our collective commitment to safeguarding lives and property.”
Adebutu once more proved tat he can be trusted with wealth, and that he is the definition of ebullient, phenomenal and philanthropist-personified.
Recall that in a 2024 interview with The Boss, Chief Adebutu noted that “I continue telling people, I don’t stay negative. My calling is to do good to people, and to appreciate God’s mercy on my life and my family. I know I work hard, but some people work harder than me, but they are not getting a fraction from what I am getting from God. So the only way about mine is to show appreciation to God by giving out a little bit of the fraction of what he has given to me. I believe that a soul which is healthy and educated can never go backward, and that is what I have passion for; that explains my giving nature…what I am doing is to tell God thank you. As long as God spares my life, I will continue to do good deeds.”
Fondly called Baba Ijebu as a result of the empirical success of one of his business concerns, Adebutu is by every standard an enigma, a colossus of immense substance and someone no one can ever wave away. He has carved his life in gold, and more importantly, his afterlife in glory.
In 2025, Adebutu totally exhausted eight long days to celebrate his entry into the nonagerian club. His philanthropic gestures traveled through the cities of Ife, Iperu and Lagos, leaving behind soundtracks of immense generosity. These levels of generosity changed and still changing lives, redefined concepts and set new standards in the history of corporate social responsibility delivery.
Even at 91, Adebutu appear agile, able and full of wisdom. He is also highly prolific. It is worthy of note that once upon a time Adebutu added a glorious great feather to his crown of feathers, becoming the custodian of Yoruba culture, as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II conferred on him the Odole of Ile Ife, one of the most prestigious titles in Yorubaland, and Ife’s highest title.
The Odole title, reputed to be conferred on prominent individuals, who have distinguished themselves in all areas of human endeavours, is the sure honour for a man of Adebutu’s calibre and status. This is because the betting businessman, has not only excelled in business but has become a rare gem when it comes to looking after the less privileged and sending heartfelt endearments to as many as that cross his path. Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi (SAN) were former holders of the title
Popularly known as Baba Ijebu and Omo Iya, Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, with an avanlanche of recognitions including CON, KJW and FISM, was born to late Alhaji karimu Folarin Adebutu aka “Owo-Iya” and late Alhaja Seliat Olasimbo Adebutu of Iperu Remo, Ikenne LGA in Ogun State on October 24, 1935. Sir Kesington completed his primary education in 1950 having attended the Wesley Primary School, Iperu Remo and later Ijero Baptist School, Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
In January 1951, he was admitted to Baptist Academy School, but he completed his secondary education at the grand Remo Secondary School (RSS), Sagamu, Remo, Ogun State. Baba Ijebu’s career endeavour started at Cable and Wireless Limited, which later became NITEL, as Operations Clerk. He later joined Claffins Chemicals as a salesman, and through dint of hardwork rose to become the Regional Sales Manager for Lagos and the then Midwestern Region. It was his quest to provide employment for teeming Nigerian youths that led to the establishment of Face Millionaires Pool Limited with his bosom friend, Chief Solomon Ayoku in 1969.
A philanthropist par excellence, Sir Kesington abandoned his ambition to become a lawyer, preferring to ‘enjoy’ life, and today, is the proprietor of Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF), and promoter of the popular Premier Lotto, also known as Baba Ijebu – a scheme that has put smiles on the faces of many Nigerians. Adebutu, over the years, has used every opportunity that comes his way to affect lives of everyone he meets, especially during his birthdays and auspicious occasions. During his 80th birthday, Adebutu, whose Foundation was celebrating its 10th anniversary, conducted a free medical outreach programme at Iperu-Remo, Ogun state. In addition, he gave out eight brand new cars and other valuable gifts to loyal customers of Premier Lotto.
Sir kesington’s larger than life image is always in the public view, and he has been honoured on a good number of occasions. He was rewarded as an ICON and celebrated as a man of character, kindness and generosity during the Ogun at 40 celebrations in 2016. Other feathers on the crown of the man of possibilities include the traditional title of Asoju Oba of Lagos, which was conferred on him by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu. When the man of means celebrated his 81st birthday, he wowed the congregation when instead of demanding gifts, tasked everyone to make a donation to the church, and tagged it “Adebutu Family Harvest”. His dedication to God is legendary.
He said during thanksgiving service that: “At 81, what work can I do, there is no work I can do at 81 years but the work of God”. That was 10 years ago, and that also explains how dedicated and close to his God he is.
A year later, during his 82nd birthday, he was quoted as saying: “At 82, what can one say? You have contributed immensely to worthy causes in the house of God. Even you have contributed to other worthy causes in the state and the society as a whole. People like you are rare to find. “What is now left for you is to continue to walk with God, love God the more, live your life for Him. So that at the end of your race on earth, you will reign with Him in heaven.”
In 2018, Adebutu was honored with double chieftaincy titles as the Baba-Oba Akarigbo of Remo by the Lord of Remo, His Royal Highness, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, and also honoured as Baba-Oba Alaperu of Akesan Land by His Royal Majesty, King Idowu Basibo (Odoru V), Sagamu in Ogun State, at the sprawling palace of the royal father in Sagamu Remo.
A worthy icon, well known business brand, philanthropist extra-ordinaire, Adebutu was at the forefront of helping to stem the tide of the Coronavirus pandemic with a generous donation of N300 million to the Lagos State government while commending ‘the dynamic efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in bringing succour to the sufferers of COVID-19 Pandemic in the state’.
In a letter the billionaire industrialist personally signed, he was quoted as saying “As a token of our support to the victims, myself, family and organisation are donating a modest sum of N300,000,000.00 towards which, we have forwarded the necessary instruction and our bankers – Wema Bank Plc has transferred the sum into the dedicated UBA account…”
The front line humanitarian, Adebutu is using his using his wealth of experience, spread and connection to positively affect the youths of Yoruba land, just as his predecessors did in the past.
He said: “With my emergence as Odole Oodua, the Yoruba race will witness new era of sociocultural development, unity and peace,” and he has been living up to expectation many years after. His contributions, donations and acts of benevolence continue to reverberate across the length and breadth of Yorubaland.
The grace behind his Odole status clearly summarises his larger than life personality
Adebutu is happily married with a host of very successful children.
This is wishing the great philanthropist, lover of humanity and distinguished gentleman a happy, prosperous 91st birthday!
Personality in Focus
Glo Celebrates Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe with Royal Banquet As 2026 Ofala Festival Ends
Globacom brought the 2026 Ofala Festival to a magnificent close on Wednesday with a royal banquet in honour of the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
The elegant gathering, attended by the monarch, members of his cabinet, Globacom’s trade partners and high-net-worth customers, marked the grand finale of the festival sponsored by the telecommunications and digital solutions company.
Speaking at the occasion, Globacom’s Divisional Head, South-East, Mike Ehumadu, said the event underscored the enduring significance of partnerships between corporate organisations and traditional institutions in preserving Nigeria’s cultural legacy and sustaining the traditions that give communities their distinctive identity.
He congratulated Igwe Achebe, the Ofala Festival organising committee and the people of Onitsha on the successful celebration of the 2026 edition, reaffirming Globacom’s commitment to initiatives that celebrate Nigeria’s cultural diversity, strengthen community bonds and project the country’s rich heritage to a wider international audience.
The evening unfolded as a vibrant tapestry of music, comedy and cultural entertainment. Guests were treated to performances from Aniweta Mazeli, Boy o Boy and the Groove Band, while comedian MC Ezegetive infused the gathering with laughter. The performers brought their artistry to bear on the occasion, enriching its atmosphere and creating cherished moments for the royal household, community leaders and other distinguished guests.
In further recognition of the competitive spirit, discipline and communal solidarity displayed by the various Onitsha age grades during the festival, Globacom rewarded winners of the different competitions with cash prizes and trophies. The gesture acknowledged not merely their achievements but also the collective pride and sense of belonging that animate the Ofala tradition. It also presented hundreds of bags of special Basmati rice to all the members of the different age grade associations.
Globacom’s sustained association with Ofala exemplifies the capacity of purposeful private-sector investment to preserve cultural heritage while broadening the social and economic benefits of traditional festivals.
