Otunba Olusegun Runsewe Bags Tourism Brand Icon Awards

•Details of The FTAN Organised Event

Cool tunes from the Nigerian Football Supporters Club headed by the indefatigable lifetime president, Mr Rafiu Ladipo welcomed guests as they came in one after the other into the Orchid Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos to a special award night. It was not the Super Eagles of Nigeria that is being cheered by these popular tunes, rather it was a honour for a man who has been adjudged a gift to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Nigerian Council of Arts and Culture, and the entire nation as a whole. The name being celebrated was no other person than Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director-General and CEO of the Nigeria Council for Arts and Culture.

It was an even of class, style and entertainment for most of the guests but most importantly, it was an emotional evening for Otunba Runsewe who revealed that he had not felt so much loved and celebrated all his life the way the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) celebrated him.  History was made on Friday, September 24, 2021, because the 25 associations that made up FTAN has not honoured any individual before today.

DAMILARE SALAMI 08155134152 and Senior Photojournalist, Abdulrasheed Sanni were present at the event and here are some of the juicy moments for your reading pleasure, enjoy.

 

ABOUT FTAN

The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) is the Umbrella body that represents all the private sectors in the Tourism and related industry in Nigeria. The Association was established in 1997 by the then Federal Ministry of Commerce and Tourism to facilitate liaison between Government agencies and the organized private sector. Members of this association include the Hotel and personal Service Employers Association of Nigeria, (HOPESEA), Nigeria Association of Tour Operators, (NATOP).

National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents, (NANTA), The Institute of Tourism Professionals, (ITP), Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria, (HATMAN), Hotel Owners Forum Abuja, (HOFA), Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria, (ATBOWATON), Association of Nigeria Tourism journalists and Writers of Tourism, (ANJET), Nigeria Hotel and Catering Institute, (NHCI), Nigeria Auto Sport Association, (NASA), Touristry Consultant Forum, (TCF), The Artefacts Rescuer Association of Nigeria, (ARAN), Nigeria Hotel Association, (NHA), Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria, (ATPN), Africa Travel Association, (ATA), Youth Tourism Development Organisation (YTDO), WEBISCO/WIFFWEM, Dance Guide of Nigeria, (DGN), Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria, (ACHAN), Hotel Car Hire Association of Nigeria, (HCHAN), The Society of Tourism Experts and Professionals, (STEP), Culture and Tourism Youth International, (CULTUOR) and the Association of Fast Food Confectioners of Nigeria, (AFFCON).

 

WHO IS OTUNBA OLUSEGUN RUNSEWE

Otunba Runsewe  (OON), Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, who is also the President of the World Crafts Council, African Region, has remained a consistent phenomenon in the Media, Culture and Tourism Sectors in Nigeria in the last three decades.  He worked as Marketing Manager at the New Nigerian Newspaper and rose to the position of General Manager at the organization.  He also worked as Head of Public Relations (Media) National Theatre; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Sports Weekly and was Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of National Network Newspapers.  He was also the Media Coordinator, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013, Abuja, Nigeria.

Otunba Runsewe was appointed as an Executive Director at the National Orientation Agency in 2000, a position he held until his appointment as the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in August 2006.  His tenure at the NTDC was a watershed in the development of the Tourism Sector in Nigeria.  His aggressive Tourism marketing campaign, anchored on the catch-phrase “Tourism is Life” gave the Nigerian Tourism Industry unprecedented national and international visibility.  The tenure positioned Nigeria as one of the leading faces of tourism and a preferred destination in Africa.  With consistent annual exhibitions at International Tourism Expositions like FITUR, Madrid Spain; ITB Berlin, Germany; Arabian Travel Market, Dubai; World Travel Market Oakland London, etc, Nigeria, during Runsewe’s tenure, began to seriously contend for the world’s attention as a destination of preference.  The era witnessed the harvest of commendation letters by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, including those from the World Travel Market, London and FITUR, Spain.

Otunba Runsewe was also the pioneer Chairman of Abuja Carnival Planning Committee, the Carnival edition that has been adjudged by the international community to be the best organized since its inception.  The Nigerian Tourism Village, which he put together during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, was rated as one of its kind at the event.

Otunba Runsewe is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Chairman Nigerian Sports Writers Association; Chairman, Board of Nigerian Institute of Journalism; Fellow, of Institute of Management (FIM); Fellow, Association of Business Executives, (FABE), London; President, World Crafts Council, African Region and Chairman, Africa China Culture and Arts Exchange Society.

A detribalized Nigerian, he holds several titles from different parts of the country, including Danbura Kabi, Kebbi State; Obiagu one of Igbo Ukwu, Anambra State, amongst others. He is currently the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), a position he assumed in 2017. The vision of the Council under his leadership is to reposition culture as a tool for national unity, peace and social integration as well as a machinery for stimulating rapid socio-economic growth and development. He has been pursuing this vision with total passion and utmost vigour.

Born in Kaduna to the family of Pa Bankole Runsewe from Ogun State, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe attended St. Michael Primary School, Kaduna before proceeding to Vohoeven Technical College Minna, now Government Technical College.  He holds an MBA in Marketing from Edo State University; Higher National Diploma in Management Studies from London School for Executives.  He also has a Diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Management Studies and a Professional Certificate in Estate and Property Management from Kaduna Polytechnic.

 

FTAN PRESIDENT WELCOMES GUESTS

The event was officially declared open when the FTAN President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung welcomed the guests. He revealed that the event would be a continuous one yearly. However, Otunba Runsewe was first among several other people because of his contributions to the Association and tourism at large. According to him, Otunba Runsewe had taken tourism in Nigeria from ground zero to a level where it is being recognized all over the world.

 

CULTURAL TROUPE PERFORMS

It was a completely entertaining evening as the cultural troupe from the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture delivered an awesome cultural performance. Their performance was entertaining as well as educating as it depicts the importance of culture in the economic development of a nation.

 

HOW OTUNBA RUNSEWE HAS SUPPORTED MANY NIGERIANS

The event was indeed an evening of honour. It is not a common phenomenon in this part of the world that anyone would be celebrated in their lifetime but for Otunba Runsewe, it was done in a big way. FTAN ensured that the Honorable DG was heard what people know, think and understand about him. It was revealed by many of the guests that Otunba had touched their lives, businesses or careers in one way or the other.

 

NIGERIA’S MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM MADE A STATEMENT IN RUSSIA 2018

It was no doubt that Otunba Runsewe has been a strong pillar for the Nigerian football supporters club, however, it was revealed by Mr Rafiu Ladipo and other testifiers at the event how Otunba Runsewe helped the association to make a huge statement during the 2018 World Cup. Nigeria was named the most culture-friendly and fashionable team at the world cup, all thanks to the Nigeria Council of Arts and Culture that is headed by Chief Runsewe.

 

LAGOS TO HOST THE 2022 NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

The event also had a huge representation from the Lagos State Government. The SA to Gov Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu revealed that Otunba has against all odds approved Lagos State as the host of the 2022 National Arts Festival. He revealed that even though there were two other states lined up for the hosting rights, Lagos got the right because of his huge support for the state and belief in the government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s ability to deliver.

OTUNBA RUNSEWE TO LAUNCH A NEW BRAND IN LAGOS

At the event, Otunba Runsewe also revealed that he is going to be launching a new brand come 2022 at the Lagos National Festival. The brand which he calls Youth Enrollment For Peace. According to him, the reason there is so much insurgency, insecurity, crime and many other social vices is that the youths have been neglected when it comes to ensuing for peace. With this project, the youths will be involved in peacemaking processes and be trained on how to live peacefully with others.

 

UNVEILING OF THE PLAQUE

It was indeed a special moment as Otunba’s plaque was unveiled. It was a beautifully crafted sculpture image of Otunba Olusegun Runsewe. It was handed over to him by the FTAN BoT Chairman, Mr Samuel Alabi, Mr Ikechi Oko, a BoT member, Mr President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung and a few others.

 

PRINCE BISI OLATILO, MRS NIKE OKUNDAIYE DAVIES, MRA RAFIU LADIPO DIG IT WITH OTUNBA RUNSEWE

The event was not without dancing. Prince Bisi Olatilo was spotted coordinating the dance that included Nike Art Gallery Boss, Mrs Nike Okundaiye Davies, her daughter, Miss Aina Davies, Mr Rafiu Ladipo, Otunba Runsewe himself as well as the FTAN President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung.

 

Roll call

Present at the event was Mr Nkwem Nnamdi, Chief Samuel Alabi, Mr Augustine Ebose, MD Anchor Insurance, Mr Ikechi Uko, Convener, Akwaba Africa Travel Market, Mr. Solomon Bonu, SA to Gov Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Princess Adenike  Adedoyin Ajayi. Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Oladunsin Komolafe, Mrs Adama Oni, Mr Idowu Johnson, Mr Titilayo Kayode, Senior Manager, Nigerian Tribune, Dr Gani Tazan Balogun, MC Ebony and many more.