About 30 years ago, Nigerian women in the travel and tourism
trade business, were just in the ” owenbe” class. They took back seat and
respectfully serve the men flock. Generally seen but not heard, these women of
yore, simple bow to the suffocating male influence.
They were more in number, yet timid in taking political
decisions. The men rode over their shoulder and where they were given
opportunities, they merely hold the purse of the associations or speak for
groups with tongues tied by men.
I have been around for a while in the sector, so let me
share with you the emerging rise and rise of women in travel and tourism trade
and how the men, have respectfully changed their oppressive perception. These
has nothing to do with” mother’s day or international women’s day”.
My focus today, is on the ongoing revolution in National
Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), a critical indigenous trade
brand organisation, every step positive, and voice mail of private sector
travel and tourism contribution to the economy.
At its foundation, some four decades ago, great men like Rex
Udo, Late Elder Jerry Nwosu and Babatunde Akala, gave birth to a Nigerian
collective interest in what could be considered an essential business decision
to grow an exclusive Nigerian service offering in a business colonised by
foreigners.
There was a woman in their midst, though not a trade
operator but history bestowed her with opportunity to ” take notes” at one of
the several meetings to find bearings for the association, known as Nigerian
Travel Agents Association (NATA). Mrs. Kate Emetu, is the mother of delectable
Chinyere Umeasiegbu, who was inaugurated the Vice President, of NANTA,
Eastern Zone, more than four decades her mother, took the first notes of
meeting of the association.
Was it divine? Did God who know the ways of humanity,
plant the seed of women futuristic hold at those early “Israelites
journey” of the association? I have tried to severally to tie the loose ends
and I kept wondering.
After Olufemi Adefope and Munzali Dantata eras, the likes of
pretty but now ageing Modupe Lawale, brought the visibility of women”
spokesperson to bear. There were also fearless, black and beautiful, Mrs.
Lewis, Uloma Egbuna and Victoria Soluade.
These women were the early signs that NANTA, will thrive
bigger and better with women at its driver’s seat. No doubt, the presence of
skal club, to capture the feminine desires of travel operators failed. While
the industry future lies with the aggregation of the collective bargaining
chips in NANTA, attempt to lure women with Owanbe gyrations in Skal club, a
variant trade body but with partying vanities, didn’t kill the interest of
women in NANTA growth and development.
Early nineties, saw the emergence of the matriarch of
association’s female leadership ecology. Mrs. Teresa Ojo( Ezobi), a
Thatcherist, urban and dogged achiever happened on the scene and redefined and
repositioned the association, , making it a first port of call before
government could evolve industry policy actions and even of engagement.
Even though it was during the highway days of the military
in government, these men in uniform, ensured that aviation and tourism issues
were well cleared by NANTA under the watch of Tereza ( Ezobi) OJo.
Apart from introducing automation to the entire industry, a
biblical guideline to how to issue tickets and compute costs with ease, Teresa
drove tourism business to no end and ensured NANTA members flourished in the
new game, leveraging on the new stream of income, human relations, and the very
glamour associated with tourism.
Let nobody deceive you, cultural tourism is the future and
herein lies the power of even tourism transportation and logistics. Ask Femi
Adefope, Uloma Egbuna, Funmi Rotiba and the young influencer led by Bolaji
Seun.
Critically, Susan Akporiaye, the trail blazing
President of NANTA and the second in the history of the association, while
stabilising NANTA after the COVID Armageddon, took to cultural tourism
evangelism and hope to revisit the Tereza (Ezobi) Ojo touch.
In Kano, where again, NANTA made history, under the watch of
Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, detailed female membership was on leadership show of
force. Aminu Agoha, ex-President of NANTA and member of the association
Board of Trustees, took the floor of prophecy, revelling the future of women in
NANTA.
Something told me to capture for posterity where and who
these women are. I won’t tell you what position they occupy but will tell you
their names, so when this seed sown by Mrs. Akporiaye gains fruition tomorrow
and in the future, you may understand, how NANTA kept evolving.
From the Eastern Zone and led by a revelation herself, Mrs.
Chinyere Umeasiegbu, are Onyinye Okwara, Amarachi Obinna – Ngige, Foluke
Abodunrin, Ruth Ohakwe, Ifeanyi Ngozi Mbachu and Adaora Bassey Okon. In Kano,
they were smart, hospitable, organised and visible. They can’t be ignored and
let me add, brilliant. Their zonal leader, Mrs. Umeasiegbu was angelic,
every encounter with a deep smile and you wonder if she is hardly outspoken or
speaks at all. Her actions speak, I dare say.
The men in NANTA, should know this outing is about
their women, mothers and sisters that have come to table of a new dawn in NANTA
and there is no denying they have come to stay for long time to come.
From Abuja Zone led by a lady to whom one has found
amazing, uncomplicated and cerebral, Mrs. Ibiwari Uloma Kemabonta, the women
presence in the leadership profile, also attracted the attention “prophet”
Aminu Agoha.
And they are numbered for posterity as Angela Ike, Sarah
John and Iniobong Umoren. From Lagos, Ms Aliu Bukola breaks the ice in all male
zonal exco led by unputdownable Yinka Folami. It indeed, would be a sin to
forget Adeola Adewole, who once gave the zone a future and currently numbered
in the Susan Akporiaye leadership. What of Western Zone, led by
indefatigable Babatunde Adesokan? Adeyemi
Olayemi and Riyike wellington are women to watch the NANTA
heritage line.
Up North, the women are taking their time. Abdulrazak
Ibrahim, the Kano team leader, has promised to break the ceiling before he
leaves office.
And to end this piece on women in NANTA, the Board of
Trustees, has Tariboba Mordi, ageless Mrs. Kofo Akanni Aluko, Bimbo Durusimi
Ette and Ihuoma Ubani
However, this giant stride could not be achieved without the
willing prodding of men. While Tereza era had Adefope, Akala and Olu
Ogunsulire, who flanked her in total support, Mrs. Susan Akpopraiye, currently
has her men team in the persons of Zack Abulahhie, Yinka Folami, Chima Ihe,
Kabiru Maiwada and Yinka Ladipo.
Going forward, I must also point, the emergence of grasshoppers in the women wing. Noisy, impatient and hawkish, these young female operators are far away from the dreams of future female leaders in NANTA. And they know themselves. This piece is dedicated to Susan Akporaiye, who in the next two years, God willing, will write her name in gold. And for Chinyere Umeasiegbu and Uloma Kemabonta, my eyes are you and that of the nation.
By - Admin
By - Admin
By - Admin