Runsewe bags ‘Pillar of Nigerian Tourism and Culture’ award
By Maureen Aguta
Former Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has been honoured with the award of Pillar of Nigerian Culture and Tourism.
The award, conferred by the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), was presented at a colourful ceremony held on Thursday, October 23, at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers.
Runsewe was recognised alongside other distinguished Nigerians for their remarkable contributions to the growth and development of the country’s tourism and cultural sectors. Among the honourees were former Minister of Tourism and Culture, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu; Otunba Wanle Akinboboye (Foremost National Tourism Builder and Creative Mind); Mr. Jemi Alade (National Trailblazer in Inbound Tour Operation); Engr. Tarzan Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun (National Icon in Tourist Boat Operations and Water Transportation); Mr. Nkereuwem Onung (Icon of Consistency and Resilience in National Tourism Leadership); and Chief Abimbola Bode-Thomas (Hospitality and Tourism Management Amazon).
Speaking at the event, ANJET President, Mr. Okorie Uguru, said the awards were designed to honour individuals who had served the nation with distinction and contributed immensely to building the visibility and credibility of Nigeria’s tourism industry.
He said: “This initiative is about promoting a culture of service and appreciation. We are celebrating those who laid the foundation for the industry’s growth, not just those currently in office. They remain the custodians of our sector’s institutional memory.”
In his acceptance speech, Runsewe expressed appreciation to ANJET for the recognition but lamented Nigeria’s lack of commitment to developing tourism as a major economic driver.
He said: “I stopped talking for some time because there are too many talks in tourism and no action. We come, speak big English, and go back. If this country manages tourism well, we should not have a single child looking for a job. After agriculture, tourism is the biggest employer of labour, but we are still telling ourselves stories.”
Runsewe also cited examples of untapped tourism opportunities in Nigeria, including religious tourism, which he said had flourished unnoticed through personalities like the late Pastor T. B. Joshua.
“When T. B. Joshua was hosting his international conferences, over 20 private jets were parked at the airport. That was religious tourism, but no one keyed into it,” he said.
He commended ANJET for its consistency in promoting the sector and urged tourism stakeholders to transform advocacy into action to unlock the industry’s full potential.