2 weeks Ago By Andrew Iro Okungbowa
Chief Mike Amachree has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pledging his commitment to the hosting and promotion of the Ipada Initiative and Carnival 2024. According to Amachree, who is also regarded as the Father of Nigerian Tourism, the President by openly identifying with the festival as Grand Patron and Chief Global Ambassador, has shown the commitment of his government develop and promote Nigerian tourism. He further noted that the President’s pledge to personally attend the event and also rally support from across the world as well as his directive to the federal Ministry of Tourism to ensure that government at all levels and Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government are moblised for the event, is a big boost for Nigerian tourism.
The Ipada Initiative and Carnival 2024 is a private sector driven project designed by the Founder and President of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, to attract between five and 10 million Africans in the Diaspora to Nigeria and other African countries. Amachree said: “I wish to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for throwing his weight behind this laudable tourism programme by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye. By authorising a personally signed letter, it is a major boost for tourism industry in the country now.
“President Tinubu, with this action, and also by his creation of the tourism ministry, has shown the seriousness of his administration to reposition the industry.” Amachree, who is one of the pioneer practitioners of the travel industry in Nigeria and former President of the foremost private sector operators group, Association of Tourism practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), is the proprietor of Brooklyn Group of Hotels and the founder of the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach Resort. He also applauded Akinboboye for this bold move while pledging his personal support for the project.
This is as he disclosed that he has followed the trajectory of Akinboboye in the industry, most especially his passion and commitment to the growth of the sector in Nigeria. Amachree said: “Otunba Wanle Akinboboye has been very active and consistent in the tourism industry in Nigeria. He has supported the growth of the sector for so many years.
“I remember some years back when he and other dignitaries used to fly down from Lagos to Port Harcourt to support my tourism programmes, including the launching of the Brooklyn Museum and Port Harcourt Zoological Garden, where he would make meaningful contributions. I think his current Ipada Initiative and Carnival 2024 is laudable and will definitely help to boost international tourist reception in Nigeria.”.
