Date Published: 02/06/10

NTDC Boss: Taking Tourism to the Next Level By Edward Wabundani 

       Otunba olusegun Runsewe, the Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, no doubt is a philosopher King. He possesses the commitment of a Muamnar Gadafi, the intellectual agility of John Kennedy, the erudition of a Fidel Castro, and the charisma of a Mahatma Gandi. These are the stuff of which great leaders are made. Personally, I am stunned by the Otunba’s simplicity, decency, gentleness and above all his intimidating profile of achievements.

       Tourism to the DG NTDC is not all about the physical beauty of Nigeria, but the nation’s culture in a positive manner. That may have been responsible for the nation’s Chief Tourism Officer to embark on reeling out some measures aimed to encourage tourism in the country and outside the shores. One of such measures was the launching of the city navigator that has the streets of major cities in Nigeria. As applicable in other countries across the globe, the navigator to a large extent assists tourists to locate their ways through the nation’s major cities. The registration of hotels and the pursuit of ensuring cleanliness for the environment has been a major challenge for the tourism agency.

       Otuba Runsewe believes that Nigeria has the potentials to earn as much as Dubai in the tourism sector. He recently told a National daily that “Nigeria is equally blessed with all the natural beauty and natural waterfalls with varying climatic endowments, the country can make it to the top in tourist venture” .

       The NTDC Boss is an enigma. Gradually, he has maneuvered through an avalanche of rockets and cannon fires, with scintillating acrobatics. He has landed his big bird on the runway safely. The Chief Tourism Officer has technically forced his colleagues to watch, listen and follow his exemplary leadership qualities when recently in far away Spain, some African countries formed a body referred to as ‘African Tourism Promotion Initiative” aimed to promote the continent’s tourism destinations.

       Due to his warm but cool, impressive but unassuming, articulate but reticent personality, his colleagues on the continent elected him president of the body at the 30 th edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR 2010) in Madrid, Spain, to be precise on January 28, 2010. Other executive members who emerged victorious at the forum in Madrid alongside our own Runsewe, include Zimbabwe’s Karikogo, Kaseka, Vice president. Others are Mrs. Stella Drabo of Burkina Faso Secretary, while Mr. Ida Jang Njie, the Chief Executive of Gambia Tourism Authority emerged the Image Maker of the body.

       In his post election speech, the Director General of NTDC Chief Olusegun Runsewe was graphically quoted as saying, that the African Tourism Initiative was primarily formed to increase interest in African destinations by Spanish investors and tourists alike. He explained that the body is expected to afford African destinations the opportunity to present their various destinations and business opportunities.

       The idea to have such a body was mooted in 2008 at the World Trade Market in London. Part of the body’s agenda include but not limited to form a synergy with a view to market and promote intra-tourism agencies on the continent.

       It is against this background that, the President of the African Tourism Promotion Initiative who is also the DG of NTDC has been urged to continue to uphold his integrity and honour in the discharge of his official responsibilities as the Ombudsman of the Tourism Sector in Nigeria. The National Leadership of Hope Arewa Development Initiative in a solidarity statement on Runsewe’s recent elevation, hold the opinion that the NTDC boss has so far demonstrated great zeal and commitment to make Nigeria a Tourism Haven, “little wonder he has been decorated with  a national  award and several others from numerous National and International Bodies. The conferment of a National Award of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the Federal Government on this gentleman is a clear demonstration that the present government rewards hardwork and excellence.

       Infact whatever anybody would say, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe is one of the leading lights of the Yar’adua presidency, especially in the area of promoting positive issues to improve and expand the country’s fortune of tourism sector, as exemplified in the present government’s Seven Point Agenda.

       From the foregoing, Otunba Runsewe did demonstrate that good ideas are not sufficient enough, but drive, decision and follow-through are equally important, though often insufficiently applied in this our own part of the world. It is to this end that, the nation’s Chief Tourism Officer initiated and drove these strategic measures to tackle the lukewarm disposition of the past and evolve new means of meeting global tourism challenges. My man is confident that with abundant human capital and the natural endowments, God has blessed Nigeria with; the world is yet to see the beautiful side of Nigerian life. I doff my hat, Otunba Runsewe. 

       Edward Wabundani, a Media Consultant based in Abuja can be reached on endwarnaga@yahoo.com.