Chief Mrs. Magaret Bolanle Idowu Fabiyi, a.k.a Mama Webisco, Founder/ CEO of Webisco Tourism and Webisco Women in Agricultural Tourism Limited, has been listed in the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria.
The listing of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria by Travellers Magazine is historic and an effort to cast in gold the faces of the people who are behind the great effort and deep sacrifices in promoting tourism in Nigeria despite the harsh conditions they operate within the tourism landscape in Nigeria. Travellers Magazine is the first travel magazine in West Africa, remaining consistent in its publications for over 22 years.
Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria list was set up to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves as foremost and outstanding drivers in the travel and tourism industry in Nigeria; and through their efforts and or that of their organizations have impacted positively on the travel and tourism sector in Nigeria, stimulating and helping to achieve the country’s tourism goals and forging interactions among stakeholders and customers across the country.
This is the second edition. In 1999 Travellers Magazine published its first Compilation of the Nigerian Top 100 Tourism Club. Almost two decades later the list needs to be updated. Chief Mrs. Magaret Bolanle Idowu Fabiyi has been honoured to have emerged on that list.
Chief Mrs. Margaret Bolanle Idowu Fabiyi, for more than 3 decades has been deeply involved in travel and tourism, being the one who initiated the Black History Month Festival in Lagos. Mrs. Fabiyi has never relented in promoting and marketing Nigeria as a preferred tourist destination, through exhibitions, cultural shows, fashion parades and familiarization trips, a work she continues to do even as age began to take its toll lately.
Widely travelled, Mama Webisco has attended seminars exhibitions, conferences and annual congresses in Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Cameroon, Tanzania, Egypt, London, Gambia, Ghana and USA. She was a member of the federal Government delegation to Botswana.
Mrs. Fabiyi belongs to major tourism association in Nigeria including FTAN, NANTA, NATOP, ATNP and currently the chapter president, ATA. Mrs. fabiyi has served as FTAN board member for over four years, and she served as a member of NIHOTOUR board for two terms.
In recognition of her commitment to tourism promotion and marketing at home and abroad, the Federal Ministry, Culture and National Orientation endorsed the Black History Month Convention and Expo project over the years. Some of the ministers that consistently backed the project included Alabo Graham Douglas, Boma Bromillow Jack and Senator Jibril Garda. The project was organized by Webisco International Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs (WIFMEN).
At the moment, Mama Webisco is involved in her legacy project, the Webisco Women in Agricultural Tourism Limited which is registered to promote Agrotourism starting with the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Using Enviro-Dome Ventilation System Greenhouses, the main products lines are Tomatoes-Cucumbers-Sweet peppers red, green and yellow. The main area of focus is essential to have integrated Agriculture Tourism Centre which includes Chalets and Event Centre.
The Agrotourism Centre will have Training wing as well as Industrial Centre for Processing of Tomatoes, Fish and Chicken. It will also house Entertainment section, Restaurants, Amusement park, mini zoo and wildlife. As we progress, we shall have small and medium scale rice and other grains milling machines for our use and sales of or lease by our out grower partners and smallholder farmers. The Centre will also have indoor and outdoor games for visitors and guests. There will be dedicated area for clubbing, recreation and fitness Centre.
The Mini Tourism Resort (Envirodome Greenhouse) which will accommodate agriculture and tourism in same location, and is done in partnership with Osun State government on a 20 hectare land. When ready, the resort will create 50, 000 employments and add value to tourism profile of the State.
Chief Mrs. Margaret Bolanle Idowu Fabiyi was born on November 11, 1945, at Ikare Akoko, Ondo State to the family of late Bishop Emmanuel Olawale Idowu, of the Anglican Communion. In 1997, Mama Webisco, as she is popularly known, was married to Chief Ebenezer Adeyemi Fabiyi and the union is blessed with children. Mrs. Fabiyi hold several chieftaincy titles she is the Yeyemeso of Osogboland and Otun Iyalaje of Ikirun.
She attended St. Margaret’s Secondary Certificate, Ilesa Grammar school, Ilesa, Diploma in Theology, Emmanuel college, Ibadan (Affiliated to University of Ibadan).
