The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has confirmed that he will personally attend the Golden Jubilee celebration and Annual General Meeting of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) scheduled to hold in April in Ibadan.
The monarch gave the assurance on Thursday when he received members of the NANTA AGM Planning Committee at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta.
The delegation was led by Mrs. Lola Adewole and included the association’s Second National Deputy President, Dr. Tokunbo Dagunduro, as well as its Financial Secretary, Mr. Yinka Ladipo.
Oba Gbadebo commended the association for sustaining its activities and professional relevance for five decades, noting that keeping a professional body united and active for 50 years reflects resilience, visionary leadership and a shared commitment among members.
He prayed for the continued growth of the association and its sustained contributions to Nigeria’s cultural tourism sector.
According to the monarch, NANTA has played a significant role in promoting Nigeria’s culture and travel trade industry, a feat he described as exemplary and worthy of emulation by other professional organisations.
The Alake also assured the delegation that he would grace the anniversary celebration, noting that Egbaland and Ibadan share deep historical, cultural and traditional ties.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mrs. Adewole, told the monarch that the association has consistently promoted Nigeria’s cultural tourism offerings as a vital national asset.
She said the association sees the country’s rich cultural heritage as a goldmine that must be preserved and harnessed to support economic growth and social development.
Adewole explained that the theme of the Golden Jubilee celebration, “Embracing Our Diverse Cultural Heritage from the City of Firsts: Redefining Our Role as Global Ambassadors,” reflects NANTA’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s cultural tourism economy.
As part of activities ahead of the anniversary celebration, the NANTA team also visited the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi, to formally invite him to the Ibadan conference.
During the visit, the delegation highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Ogun State and its importance to national tourism development and economic growth.
Meanwhile, NANTA, through its National President, Dr. Yinka Folami, has congratulated the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on his appointment.
In a letter dated March 9 and acknowledged by the police authorities, Folami pledged the association’s readiness to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force to tackle fraudulent activities within the travel trade sector.
He also formally invited the police chief to the association’s elective Annual General Meeting in Ibadan, noting that the gathering would provide an opportunity for the Inspector-General to interact with travel trade professionals on ways to promote a secure and globally compliant travel industry in Nigeria.
2026-03-13