Audu Bako, Imoke, others honoured at Abuja tourism night

Aformer Kano State governor, late CPL Audu Bako, Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke and his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan were among the 100 leading Travel and Tourism personalities in Nigeria’s history honoured at the Travellers Award Dinner by organisers of Abuja’s annual tourism expo and meeting point for travel professionals, Abuja Bantaba.

In celebrating 100 years of growth and development of travel business in Nigeria, the event tagged Abuja Centenary Bantaba celebrated pioneers, the exceptional innovators and legends of the travel business, some of whom have never been recognized before.

Tourism guru, Ikechi Uko, creator of the Abuja Bantaba and Lagos’ Akwaaba, said, “The personalities who were carefully drawn from both core and allied tourism and travel sector were considered based on their immense contribution to tourism”.

Responding to the posthumous recognition of her father who is regarded as one of the greatest tourism visionaries in Nigeria, Sa’adatu Bako said, “we are very pleased about this recognition. Our father wasn’t one who liked to be praised to his face and may probably have laughed it off. But we’re sure it would have pleased him to know that some people out there appreciate his efforts and thought him worthy of this recognition”.

Others honoured were Chief Igbinedion of the famous Okada Air, the first private major airline in Nigeria, and Nkereuwem Onung among others.