The Founder, Discover Ekiti Tourism Club and Lead Organizer Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari Event, Michael Olufemi Peculiar Ekiran has been listed as one of the top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria by naija7wonders.
Michael Olufemi Peculiar Ekiran, hailed from Iyin Ekiti in Araromi Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State.
He is an alumnus of the prestigious International Business Management Institute, Berlin Germany, and Project Management Institute, Brooklyn New York. A chartered Marketer, Associate Member, and Post Graduate Alumni member of the National Institute of Marketing Nigeria (NIMN), a Member Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and a Member Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN).
He is an advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, a result driven Social Impact Management Consultant, and Resourceful Tourism, Destination Branding and Place Marketing Consultant with 5+ years of experience. He is an effective thought leader with the ability to build motivated teams for driving excellence towards a unified vision and with an undying passion for performance, adept at identifying opportunities, build strategic plans and transforming it to tactical initiatives.
Michael started his exploits in Sustainable Tourism Development & Digital Economy space in 2016 when he was selected and trained by Google as part of the first set of trainers for the Google Digital Skills for Africa Program. His excellence & exceptional performance as one of the lead Trainers having trained over 10,000 participants in Ekiti State between 2016 – 2017 qualified him to be selected and sponsored to Google Digital Skills Trainers Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018.
However, in 2017, the Office of Senior Special Assistant to Nigerian President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) in collaboration with Mindthegap Innovation Hub partnered with Google on Digital Skills Program for Nigerian Youth. The Goal of the training is to expose participants towards leveraging on Digital Skills for Sustainable Development and community impact.
As an advocate for the SDGs and based on his professional experience as a chartered marketer, Michael decided to approach and take ownership of The SDGs from the Destination Branding & Community Place Marketing perspective, this led him to found Discover Ekiti Tourism Club a Destination Marketing & Management organization dedicated towards projecting, promoting and showcasing Ekiti State to the world as a choice destination for Tourism adventures, exploration and to enhance Ekiti Public image as a dynamic place to tour, visit and invest.
The Discover Ekiti initiative was conceived and envision to achieve the following Objectives and Impact deliverables:
- Project and Promote Ekiti to the world as a choice destination for Mountain Tourism Adventures.
- Attract Global, National and Local Tourists that will visit Ekiti and have an exciting, thrilling and magical experience hiking, touring and exploring Ekiti Hills and Mountains.
- Attract Investors and Developmental partners who will show interest in investing in Ekiti Mountain Tourism Potentials.
- Advocate for the government political will towards providing infrastructures that will help upgrade the tourist’s attraction to destination site with facilities that will help attract repeated patronage of tourists and adventurers the third edition held.
- Advocate for Community Based Tourism Development through the following strategies:
• Ensure that Government create Tourism Policies and Infrastructures that will enable residents of local communities to benefit and earn income from the services and value chain of the local Tourism Economy.
• Educate & Sensitize communities about the economic importance of Tourist attractions in their locality and the need for conservation and protection of the tourists attractions.
• Collaborate with local communities with astonishing tourist attractions on how to foster and attract infrastructures that will help in sustainable development, conservation of the tourist attractions. - Development, Management and Conservation of Tourism Heritage Sites for Sustainable Development
In 2018, Michael embarked on comprehensive research of discovering and documenting more than 70 astonishing and astounding tourism destinations across communities in Ekiti State.
In 2019, Michael led the Discover Ekiti Team in Organizing the First ever Community based Tourism Destination Branding and Place Marketing Event branded as “Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari” an outdoor mountaineering tourism adventure event that has helped project, promote, showcase and market Ekiti to the World as one of the best choice destinations for mountain tourism adventures.
The First Edition of Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari held In April 2019 was a huge success, leveraging on the power of digital media and through compelling brand promotion strategies and integrated marketing communication channels the event attracted the patronage of about 150 Mountain Hikers and Tourist Adventurers within and outside the country. It is also worthy to note that the event have attracted attracted International Hikers, Tourists and Enthusiast from the he following countries; South Africa, Dubai, Jamaica and Germany. The event also had bookings from tourists in New York and London. Local Tourists in attendance were from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Oyo, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Kogi, and Delta State respectively.
Subsequent Editions of The Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari have kept on becoming a success story, the recent edition held on April 10th 2023 attracted over 250 Tourists and adventurers as they are thrilled to explored the seven wonders of nature on Esa Cave.
Since 2019 The Discover Ekiti initiative have been featured on local and National Media Space and have been recipient of Community Social Impact Awards.
1) In August 2019 during SDGs International Youth Day Michael was selected to be part of the pioneer Ekiti SDGs Advocate on Sustainable Cities & Communities (Sustainable Tourism Category) and Received State Medal in recognition of commitment towards projecting and promoting Sustainable Tourism in Ekiti Communities by Her Excellency, The First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
2) In June 2020 Michael was featured on the list of 20 Most Influential Young Person in Ekiti State by Ekiti Youth Parliament
3) In December 2020 the Discover Ekiti Project won the Ekiti Twitter 3.0 Award of the Best use of Twitter for Tourism Development.
4) In April 2021, The Project also won the Ekiti Future Award (Art & Culture Category)
5) In June 2021 Michael was selected by Goge Africa for a Tourism Development & Mentorship Training Program endorsed by National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR)
6) In October 2021, Michael was Selected for Ekiti @ 25 Outstanding Youth Personality Award in recognition of his noble role played in the positive projection of Ekiti State in Tourism by Ekiti State Government signed by the former Governor of Ekiti State H.E. Dr. John Kayode Fayemi
7) In April 2023, during the 5th edition of Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari event, Michael was presented an Award on Advanced Professional Diploma in Sustainable Development, SDGs Volunteerism / Skills-Prenurship in the areas of Green, Digital & Social Enterprises innovation and Entrepreneurship Development for the UN Global Goals in Africa by Dr Amos Obi Director Hetaved Skills Academy For Innovations & Entrepreneurship in affiliation with Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN), SDG Academy Community of practice USA the meaningful Business Global For The SDGs
8) In February 29th 2024, Michael was awaered “2024vEkiti Future Agenda Awards for Emerging Leaders and Inspiring Individuals for Discovering and Promoting Ekiti Tourism Potentials For Global Interest
9) In March 25th 2024 Michael was selected as Winner -Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria in recognition of His outstanding contributions and dedication which have significantly impacted the growth and development of the tourism sector in Nigeria, aligning with the country’s tourism goals and fostering collaboration among stakeholders nationwide.
This award will make him to be officially inducted into the esteemed Tourism 100 Club by Travellers Magazine. and receive a Certificate of Recognition (COR) from Travellers Magazine, authorizing him to utilize the Tourism 100 Club Logo on His official correspondences. The award ceremony will take place during the Special Edition of the 10th Wonders of Nigeria Expo on April 18th-19th, 2024, at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos State.
10) On 31st March 2024 Michael Was awarded Certificate of Attendance for Ekiti State Tour Guiding & Skill Training organised by National Institute For Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) presented by The Honourable Minister of Tourism Mrs Lola Ade John during The 6th Edition of Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari.
Michael believes that the sustainable tourism potential in Ekiti Communities if developed could be Ekiti’s Next white oil as it has huge potential to create sustainable and decent jobs, grow the economy of host communities, and boost the IGR of Ekiti State if well harnessed. He and his team are passionately committed to driving advocacy and sustainable implementation strategies toward this course
