Metro
World Tourism Day: WIBAT Concludes Successful Tour of Epe, Opens City to Tourism
In celebration of the 2020 World Tourism Day, the Lagos chapter of Women in Business and Tourism (WIBAT), has taken a deserved tour of the ancient city of Epe in Lagos State, drawing out the hitherto uncharted tourism potential therein.
Leveraging on this year’s theme, “Tourism and Rural Development” the group, led by the CEO, Connoisseur Travel and Tours, Mrs Joana Owolabi, dared to bring Epe town to limelight in global tourism, giving it a head up as first choice in domestic tourism.
The trip, which spanned four days, was full of adventure, fun and education, and took the group to and through the innermost parts of the endowed town.
Among places visited included the beautiful Palace of the Paramount ruler of the town, the Oloja of Epe, HRM, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun.
The Oloja was full of praises and prayers for women, who happened to be the first women group to tour the ancient city in history. He commended the women for choosing his domain as a tourism potential to promote, especially to mark a special occasion.
”I’m very pleased to have you in our midst, especially on this special day. Let me assure you of our willingness to partner with you on future initiatives,” the Oba was quoted as saying.
The women appreciated the Oba’s reception with a surprised gift.
The team’s next port of call was the office of the Executive Chairman of Epe Local Government, Hon. Adedoyin Adesanya, whose enthusiasm at the honour knew no bounds. He thanked the women for choosing to position Epe as a tourism destination in Lagos State.
While admitting that tourism is very close to the heart to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, especially efforts to open up suburbs like Epe, he extolled the virtues of WIBAT for taking up the challenge.
The Supervisor, Envinroment and Tourism in the local government, Princess Surah Animashaun, who masterminded the adventure, also expressed her profound gratitude to the women for agreeing to explore Epe to commemorate the 2020 edition of World Tourism Day.
The team also visited many cultural, historical and educational destinations such as the popular Epe fish market where they were well received by the market women leader-Iyaloja of Oluwo Fish Market, Folashade Ojikutu, who took them on a tour of the market.
The highpoint of the tour was the visit to the town’s ancient tree, which stood majestically by the road, and decked around with a cloth, symbolising its cultural and communal importance. At the site, residents, who were happy to see tourists in their town, expressed their joy at the visit.
One of them even joked at the tourists, saying “I hope you people will not allow them to be carrying out traditional monuments and totems abroad.”
Other prominent citizens of Epe, who were on ground to receive the women group are Chairman, Active Hunters Association, Epe Division, Mr. Adeleke Adesada; legislative members representing the town in the Lagos State House of Assembly and Senate, Hon Abiodun Tobun and Senator Segun Agbaje respectively, among many other dignitaries.
The first ever women tourism adventure as recorded, has been adjudged a huge success, devoid of rancour and well conducted by a professional guide.
In her vote of thanks, Princess Animashaun expressed gratitude to the women for the bringing global attention to Epe town.
The gains of the trip is expected to resonate in the coming days, surely, however, a sour point of a trip Epe remains the dilapidated nature of the roads. This, the group said can hinder tourism exploration in the vibrant area.
Nestlé Nigeria is celebrating 15 years of impact with the graduation of twenty young trainees from the Flowergate Technical Training Centre. This milestone reinforces the company’s long-standing commitment to youth empowerment through the development of technical and vocational skills among young Nigerians.
The Nestlé Technical Training Centre is part of Nestlé Needs YOUth, Nestlé’s global youth initiative launched in 2013 to equip young people with skills, experience, and opportunities to access meaningful employment, with a goal of reaching 10 million youths worldwide by 2030.
Since its establishment in 2011 at Agbara Factory, the Nestlé Technical Training Centre has equipped 309 young Nigeri ans with hands-on technical and vocational skills across its three locations in Agbara, Flowergate, and Abaji. With an investment of over ₦6 billion, the programme delivers an intensive 18-month curriculum that combines theoretical learning with practical engineering training.
The curriculum provides comprehensive instruction in food technology, engineering, and manufacturing operations, equipping trainees with the technical expertise required to thrive in today’s industrial environment. This culminates in the internationally recognized City and Guilds of London Technicians’ Certification, significantly enhancing participants’ employability within Nigeria and beyond.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria, emphasized the alignment of the initiative with Nestlé’s core purpose “At Nestlé, our purpose is to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come. It is this purpose that drives initiatives such as this. Through the Nestlé Technical Training Centre, we are investing in the future of our industry, our communities, and the thousands of talented young Nigerians ready to grow and excel. Over the past 15 years, we have seen firsthand how this pipeline of talent has strengthened our operations, built critical capabilities within the industry, and created meaningful pathways for young people to thrive. We remain firmly committed to continuing this journey, expanding opportunities, deepening impact, and empowering the next generation of skilled professionals who will shape the future of our industry and our nation’’
The Country Human Resource Manager Shakiru Lawal, highlighted Nestle’s broader impact of the Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative under “At Nestlé, our youth development work across Central and West Africa is guided by a simple belief: unlocking potential through skills, opportunity, and real pathways to work. Through structured training, apprenticeships, and strong industry partnerships, we are helping young people build the skills they need to succeed in today’s workforce while also strengthening the future of our industry. In Nigeria, this commitment comes to life through the Nestlé Technical Training Centres. With an impressive 98% of graduates moving into employment within Nestlé, the programme has become a key talent pipeline for the business. Most importantly, it reflects our purpose of creating shared value through industry knowledge, practical skills, and meaningful job opportunities.
In his speech, the valedictorian of the graduating set, Mr. Samuel Oladokun, spoke on behalf of his fellow graduates, sharing a powerful testimony of the programme’s impact “This training has gone far beyond building our technical skills. It has shaped our discipline, strengthened our confidence, and prepared us in a real and practical way for for us to perform in demanding industrial environments. As graduates, we are leaving this Centre not only with technical competence, but also with a stronger sense of responsibility, teamwork, and professionalism. We are grateful for the opportunity we have been given, and we step forward with confidence, ready to contribute meaningfully, grow in our careers, and make a positive impact wherever we find ourselves.”
His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo Land, who was ably represented at the event commended the initiative for its positive impact on local communities and reaffirmed the support of the community in sustaining such developmental programmes.
Professor Abayomi Adelaja Arigbabu, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Ogun State, also commended Nestlé Nigeria for its continued support of government efforts in youth empowerment and skills development.
Other distinguished guests present at the ceremony included Regional Human Resource Manager, Nestlé Nigeria, Antoinette Arkoh, Hon Wasiu Isiaka
Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ogun State, Ms. Conny Camenzind, Consul General of Switzerland as well as representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and the Alliance for Youth initiative. They commended the progress of the programme and reaffirmed their continued support for its success.
The Nestlé Technical Training Initiative remains a key pillar of Nestlé Needs YOUth in Nigeria, a global initiative focused on capacity building for young people. Other programmes under this umbrella include the Nestlé Nigeria Youth Development Programme, Nesternship, and the Alliance for YOUth, all aimed at improving employability and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to thrive.
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus operated by GUO Transport along the Benn-Ore expressway, killing the driver and abducting several passengers in what underscores Nigeria’s deepening insecurity on major highways.
Reports indicate that the assailants ambushed the South East-bound vehicle, opened fire on the driver, who died at the scene, and subsequently whisked away passengers to an unknown destination.
The incident is believed to have occurred along a notorious stretch of the highway linking the South-West to the South-South, long plagued by banditry and abductions.
While official confirmation from security agencies is expected, local sources and a circulating video showed that passengers might have forcefully been taken into nearby forests, a tactic commonly employed by kidnapping syndicates operating along the corridor. Similar attacks in the past have involved mass abductions, with victims later released after ransom payments.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, on Thursday paid a high-profile courtesy visit to the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), where he lauded the agency’s operational efficiency, technological advancement, and grassroots-driven policing model.
Dr. Ogunsan in company of the fund’s Director of Administration, Mr. Adegbola Lewis were received at the LNSA headquarters by the agency’s General Manager, Dr. Ifalade Oyekan, alongside top officials and personnel. In a ceremonious display underscoring the importance of the visit, the LSSTF boss was accorded a mounted guard of honour. He was also decorated with LNSA Medal of Honour and presented with a commemorative lapel pin in recognition of his contributions to strengthening Lagos’ security architecture.
The visit featured an extensive tour of the agency’s facilities, during which Dr. Ogunsan inspected a range of modern security assets, including surveillance drones, body-worn cameras, and other high-tech equipment deployed to enhance intelligence gathering and rapid response operations.
The Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency, established by the Lagos State Government as a community-based security outfit, plays a critical role in complementing conventional law enforcement agencies such as the Nigeria Police. Its core mandate includes grassroots intelligence gathering, routine patrols, crime prevention, and fostering peaceful coexistence within communities. Officers of the agency, largely drawn from the local population, leverage their deep knowledge of their respective neighbourhoods to monitor suspicious activities, mediate disputes, and provide actionable intelligence to security agencies.
Speaking after the inspection, Dr. Ogunsan expressed admiration for the strides recorded under Dr. Oyekan’s leadership, particularly highlighting the effectiveness of the agency’s community policing framework.
“The strength of the LNSA lies in its people-oriented approach. Having officers who live and serve within their communities builds trust, enhances intelligence gathering, and ultimately strengthens public safety,” he said. “What we have seen here today reflects strategic investment, innovation, and a clear commitment to safeguarding lives and property.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of the LSSTF to sustaining support for the Lagos Neighborhood Safely Agency (LNSA) and other security agencies across the state, noting that security remains a critical pillar for economic growth, social stability, and investor confidence in Lagos.
In his response, Dr. Oyekan expressed appreciation for the continued partnership and support that the agency has enjoyed over the years from the LSSTF, describing it as instrumental to the agency’s operational successes. He reiterated that the agency’s neighbourhood-based policing structure which is anchored on local familiarity and collaboration remains central to its mission of proactive crime prevention and effective security delivery.
The visit highlights the growing synergy between key security stakeholders in Lagos State, in a bid to strengthen intelligence-led and community-driven strategies to address evolving security challenges in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and West Africa’s economic hub.
Pingback: Tourism Day: WIBAT Concludes Successful Tour of Epe, Opens City to Tourism | BSD TRAVELS AND TOURS