The organizers of the Akwaaba African Travel Market have announced the winners of the inaugural Fatima Garbati Tourism Outreach Grant.
It is an initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of tourism leaders in Nigeria.
The grant, worth a total of N5 million, will be shared among selected institutions, brands, journalists, and young tour operators, each recognized for their contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s tourism industry.
“The whole idea is to support those who have a passion for tourism just like she did,” says the Outreach Team in the message to the organizers of Akwaaba African Travel Market. “Fatima Garbati has always supported tourism events and groups.
She was especially passionate about Akwaaba and never missed one event! so it is only appropriate that we celebrate her memory here at Akwaaba.”
Institutions Recognized for Visibility and Impact of their Graduates
1) National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR)
2) Universal School of Aviation (USA) Lagos
3) Kwara State University
4) Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
5) Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY)
6) Kaduna Polytechnic
7) University of Abuja (UNIABUJA)
8) Aeroport College of Aviation Lagos
9) Aerovessel College of Aviation Lagos
10) Michael Okpara University, Umudike
11) Pathways Delta State
12) Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH)
Brands Championing Youth Tourism Across Nigeria
1) Chrisage Travels, Abuja
2) Wakalogue, Jos
3) OU Travels, Enugu
4) Omotosho Travels, Ilorin
5) Nigeria Tourism Lovers (NTL), Lagos
6) Naija Explorers, Lagos
7) Barry Jigawa, Dutse
8) Lucia of Shimmers Services
Five seasoned Tourism journalists, known for their consistent attendance and coverage of the Akwaaba Travel Market events, have also been selected for the grant.
1) Omololu Olumuyiwa
2) Olawale Olapade
3) Obinna Emelike
4) Justina Okpanku
5) Franklin Ihejirika
Audience Participation is encouraged too.
In a bid to further support and encourage young professionals in the tourism industry. Akwaaba Travel Market has also announced that 10 lucky young tour operators will each win a cash prize of N50,000 during the Youth Forum scheduled for September 24th at Akwaaba 2024.
The recipients of the grant were chosen by the organizers of Akwaaba.
Late Mrs. Fatima Garbati last served at the NATOP AGM in Ile Ife in 2019. She was the former President of NATOP, a former Deputy President of FTAN, a Deputy Director of Marketing at Nigerian Airways, and a GM at NCAA Consumer Protection Unit. Mrs. Garbati nurtured NATOP and led the association to the opening of the Calabar Tourism project that birthed the Carnival.
“We have chosen some tourism and travel institutes that will benefit from all over the country. The grants will go to the tourism departments and the best graduating students in the department,” says Ikechi Uko on behalf of Akwaaba. He added that some travel clubs that promote tours among the youth were Chosen. There will be a raffle at Akwaaba for young tour operators, and the winners will be given cash grants as well. The President of NATOP will nominate a tour operator to benefit from the grants.
