HATMAN Hails Gov. Mbah For Commitment To Tourism Growth, Appointing Renowned Professional Odo
The Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN) has hailed Gov. Peter. Mbah of Enugu State for his commitment to the growth of tourism and recent appointment of renowned hospitality and tourism professional, Chief Steve Odo.
The National President of HATMAN, Dr Lilian Managwu, said this to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday while reacting to appointment of Odo, who is also a Fellow of HATMAN, as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Tourism to Gov. Peter Mbah.
Managwu said that HATMAN, as a professional association, “appreciates His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, for recognising and appreciating professionalism.”
“This appointment is a clearly a square beg in a square hole,” she said.
According to her, HATMAN is very happy that one of our own, a seasoned professional, has been found worthy by Gov. Mbah to be appointed as his Senior Special Assistant on Tourism Matters.
She said, “Chief Steve Odo’s appointment is a clear recognition of his professional competence, experience, and commitment to the development of tourism and cultural heritage especially in Enugu State.
“As a professional, member and Fellow of our noble HATMAN and a key stakeholder in tourism and hospitality industry, we are confident that Chief Odo will bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to bear in this important responsibility.
“The association believes that his appointment came at a very significant time, especially with Enugu State been positioned as a choice Tourism destination in Nigeria.
“We are particularly confident that, under his guidance and with the support of the state government, greater attention will be given to the preservation, promotion, and development of tourism sector and cultural heritage of Enugu State.”
It would be recalled that Odo was first admitted Affiliate member of the British Institute of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management Association U.K in December 1992 and in October 2022 admitted A FELLOW of HATMAN.
Odo, former lecturer in the Department of Hospitality of both the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu and the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, authored a 365-page book titled ” The Principles and Practice of Hospitality and Tourism Management”.
He is also a co-author of the maiden book “Entrepreneurship In Hospitality and Tourism: Perspective In Nigeria” published by HATMAN..
Odo was the immediate past General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Tourism Board, who resuscitated and promoted the agency’s activities and programmes to public prominence.
It is hoped that the appointment of a Fellow of HATMAN in to the States tourism sector with escalate mutual benefits to both the government of Enugu State and the HATMAN family.