The General Manager, Ogeyi Place, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Dr Ebikaboere Seimodei has been named among the winners of Africa’s Travel 100 Women Award.
Dr. Ebikaboere Seimodei is an astute, distinguished and passionate hospitality leader with more than 32 years of international experience, including senior roles with the prestigious Hilton Worldwide brand across Europe, the Middle East, and Nigeria.
As a professionally certified Tourism and Hospitality Specialist, she carries multiple certifications in the Hospitality Industry as Master-Trainer, Hospitality Industry Auditor, Quality Assurance Practitioner, Hospitality Consultant, Mental Health and Drug Addiction Counselor among others. Ebi is also a certified Marriage and Family Counselor, Mentor and Relationship Coach.
As one of the few certified Kaizen Managers in the industry, Ebi personifies hospitality management not just as a profession, but as a personal calling to which she has devoted all her professional life. She began her career at NICON NOGA Hilton Abuja in 1992 and steadily advanced through key positions, ultimately becoming the first Woman Leader in Hilton for West Africa in 2017.
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She became the first indigenous Operations Manager in 2018 and made history of becoming the first indigenous and female Director of Operations at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja after 32 years of existence.
After 28 years of exemplary service, she voluntarily retired in 2020 and was immediately appointed Technical Adviser on Hospitality and Tourism to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri in his first tenure for four years. She has also served as Board Chair of AUN Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa, Yola, Adamawa State, for four years, alongside other board leadership appointments. A passionate mentor and trainer, she is deeply committed to capacity building and industry development.
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Dr. Seimodei is a Fellow of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), where she currently serves as Zonal Chairman (South-South). She is also a Fellow of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (FITPN), a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, member of the National Mirror Committee on Tourism and Related Services established by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), and Women in Business and Tourism (WIBAT).
Her remarkable contributions have earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including:
• Merit Time Personality & Humanitarian Ambassador Award (2017/2018)
• Award for Excellence – Umunede Progressive Union (2019)
• Peace and Conflict Resolution Award (2020/2021)
• Icon of Vision and Excellence – Institute of Corporate Administration (2021)
• Icon of Hospitality – Hotel Managers Awards Nigeria (2023)
• Tourism 100 Club Inductee – Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria (2024)
• Top 100 Abuja Brand Hospitality Icon (2024)
• Award for Tourism Personality Administration & Service – for contributions to domestic and eco-tourism growth and development in Nigeria (2025).
Currently, Dr. Seimodei serves as General Manager of Ogeyi Place Hotel (formerly Le Méridien Port Harcourt), where her visionary leadership has delivered over 100% revenue growth through operational restructuring, implementation of Standard Operating Procedures, and workforce professionalization. By blending traditional expertise with modern management systems, she has repositioned the hotel as a benchmark for excellence in the Nigerian hospitality landscape.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration and a host of other Hospitality Courses and Programs professional certifications and fellowships. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Marketing, underscoring her dedication to continuous learning, innovation, and industry advancement.
