Notable aviation and tourism practitioners from Africa took time out to celebrate one of Nigeria’s legends and an icon in the industry in Africa.
The stakeholders and others who flew into the country organised a surprise birthday party to honour the man regarded as the tourism guru for his relentless efforts in repositioning tourism in Africa.
Notable among the tourism industry players at the event include, Alain St. Ange, former Minister Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Seychelles; Madam Wanda Ibru; High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, Mr Wendell Vincent Carlton De Landro, Otunba Runsewe Olusegun , former DG, NCAC, Gabe Onah, Chairman, Cross River Carnival commission; Princess Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi, former Perm Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Mrs Susan Akporiaye, President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Uloma Egbuna, MD/CEO, Tour Brokers International, Lagos, Nigeria; George Uriesi, COO, Ibom Air; Senator Florence Ita Giwa; Hon. Steve Ayorinde, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State; Mrs Imeh Udo, NATOP President & SSA to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Tourism; Mrs Adamma Oni former Director of Tourism, Lagos State; MD/CEO Pathfinders International Limited, Nkechi Onyenso (Mrs.); Dayo Adedayo, CEO – DayoAdedayo Photography Limited; Olanma Ojukwu, CEO GOTA Travel Benin Republic; Fifi Josephine Rurangwa former RwandAir Country Manager Nigeria and Founder/CEO – TheXperts Ltd; Didier Bayeye, of South Africa, among others.
Uko, who turned 60 years old, was honoured on Saturday 13th January by notable tourism and hospitality practitioners with a permanent exhibition at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, with the exhibition named after one of his projects, “Seven Wonders of Nigeria”.
The committee for the event which included friends and families, pooled their resources together to renovate, upgrade and beautify the National Museum Onikan in Uko’s name as a mark of honour and as way of etching his name on Nigeria’s annals of history.
Speaking at the unveiling of the renovation work done in his name, the former Director General, Nigeria Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Runsewe urged Nigeria to recognize individuals that have contributed to the growth of the tourism industry in the country noting that if it fails to do so, the country will not make a headway.
“If we don’t celebrate our best in the country, we will not make any headway.
Our oil will soon find its level and the only sector that will sustain the economy is culture and tourism. The same spirit that woke the Dubai people, is radiating in Nigeria right now, and Ambassador Ikechi Uko happens to be one of the few individuals steering tourism in Nigeria. Ambassador Ikechi Uko is a brand. A brand that is unique, a brand that is sellable, durable and dependable. So, for me today I feel very proud.”
Also speaking, Alain St. Ange, former Minister Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Seychelles, said Ikechi Uko is a true legend of Africa “and we need to recognize our own legends. Let us start recognizing our own people from the continent of Africa. It is not everyday you find somebody who will go the extra mile for the continent and for everyone in Africa.” If I am here today in Lagos for Ikechi, it is because he is a special man. This is why I made the flight to be here”.
Publisher, Guardian Newspaper, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru who sent in a video to celebrate with the tourism icon said “Hello Ikechi Uko, I would like to wish you 60th happy birthday, I pray the good lord continue to sustain you in good health. Look after yourself and continue to do what you do. Thank you for introducing Akwaaba to Nigeria. we thoroughly enjoyed the two, three years we have there, particularly the last one at Eko Hotel, we enjoyed it. God bless you and your family.”
The President, Nigeria Association of Tour Operators, NATOP, Ime Udo who also spoke at the event said, “On behalf of the tour operators, we want to say thank you because you have been so passionate, consistent. Everyone who come across Mr Ikechi knows he is a man of knowledge. He has a passion in developing tourism in the country and Africa. Thank you for the young ones you have mentored. Every impact you have made in the life of every tour operator in the country is invaluable. Thank you for encouraging the tour operators and being behind our back.”
Chairman, Carnival Calabar Commission, Mr Gabe Onah, said “I have known Ikechi Uko for the past 24 years and I knew him through my boss, for Governor, Donald Duke. Ikechi is a genius. Ikechi speaks without thinking, he proffers solution without thinking because they come to him naturally. He always will like to make you feel good.” Ikechi introduced the international component side to Carnival Calabar.
The Chief Operating Officer, Ibom Air, George Uriesi, “I met Ikechi about 20 years ago, at that time I thought he was a remarkable man from a distance, I looked at him and like the way he does his things. But when I started going close to him about four and half years ago till now, after a while I realized that this guy is actually more than just a remarkable man. He is an incredible man. And all the things that everybody has said about him is correct. But what stands Ikechi out is not really his skills at what he does. It is not that he is very smart at what he does. What stands him out is that he is a man of absolute integrity. That is why he has built a global network of people, to whom his name is like a cheque. If you go and mention Ikechi anywhere, to anybody who knows him anywhere in the world, they will tell you exactly the same thing, that he is a reliable, dependable man. And so it is very easy to work with a man like that because you can trust him, he has credence. He has carried Nigeria on his head.”
Olanma Ojukwu, CEO GOTA Travel Benin Republic, said, “Ikechi made contributed greatly to the establishment of GOTA Voyage, and I am grateful that came to know him”.
Nigerian folklorist and dancer, Adeola Adebo, popularly known as “Ire D Stage Devi”, in an electrifying stagecraft performed in honour of the celebrator as she rendered prayers for him.
She said, “There is no Ire without Ikechi Uko, this is 20 years of supporting me as an artiste after attending an edition of AKWAABA Travel Market with the quest to perform, which you made me fulfil and you have been supporting me since then.
“Thank you for introducing AKWAABA African Travel Market and for supporting everyone in the tourism value chain.”
Also, Stella Fubara, a tourism consultant, described Uko as a fellow with great spirit and passion for the tourism industry.
Ikechi Uko is the organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Accra Weizo, Abuja Jabamah, initiator Naija 7 Wonders, Banjul Bantaba, Port Harcourt Bantaba, and recently Chinet Aviacargo Cargo Conference.
Ambassador Ikechi Uko is known for his immense contribution to the growth and development of tourism in Nigeria and Africa at large.
