NANTA sets zonal election dates as golden jubilee AGM beckons
Maureen Aguta
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has released the official timetable for its zonal elections nationwide, setting the stage for a keenly watched leadership transition ahead of its landmark golden jubilee Annual General Meeting (AGM).
In a statement to members, Nigeria’s foremost travel trade professional body said the zonal elections—conducted in line with its constitution—will serve as the qualifying pathway to the national elections, where contestants will vie for seats on the National Executive Council (NEC).
According to the statement, successful candidates at both zonal and national levels are eligible to serve a maximum of two terms of two years each, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.
This year’s electoral cycle carries added significance as NANTA marks 50 years of existence. The golden jubilee AGM and national elections are scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, a city that will also host the association’s anniversary celebrations.
Announcing the timetable, Chairman of the NANTA Elections Committee and Second National Deputy President, Dr. Dagunduro Tukumbo, said the zonal polls will commence in Lagos State on February 12, 2026. The process will then move to the Eastern Zone, with Port Harcourt hosting on February 19, followed by the Kano Zone on February 24 and the Abuja (Federal Capital Territory) Zone on February 25.
The Western Zone, which will also play host to the national elections and AGM, will round off the zonal exercise with the validation of its newly elected leadership on February 26, 2026.
Dr. Tukumbo assured members that the elections will be conducted with the highest standards of transparency, credibility and fairness.
He urged aspirants at both zonal and national levels to study and strictly comply with the association’s electoral code of conduct, stressing that NANTA has, over five decades, evolved beyond electoral controversies.
“At 50, NANTA has matured as an institution and remains resolute in keeping the association above primordial and sectional interests,” he said.
The golden jubilee celebration is expected to be a highlight of the year for the travel trade, with activities billed to hold at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan.
Meanwhile, NANTA President, Dr. Yinka Folami, expressed optimism about the forthcoming AGM, describing it as an opportunity to unveil fresh ideas, reforms and leadership visions that will reposition the association for the future.
He called on members nationwide to participate actively in the process and to elect leaders who genuinely reflect and protect their collective interests.
As the countdown to Ibadan begins, all eyes are now on the zonal contests that will shape the leadership and direction of NANTA at a defining moment in its history.