Events

Ikechi Uko at 60: Tourism practitioners unveil permanent exhibition at National Museum

Published

3 years ago

January 19, 2024

A renowned tourism consultant, Ikechi Uko, has been honoured with a permanent exhibition at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, as a tribute to his contributions to the industry.

Uko, who turned 60 years old, was honoured on Saturday by some tourism and hospitality practitioners with the exhibition named after one of his projects, “Seven Wonders of Nigeria”.

Akonitv reports that the “Seven Wonders of Nigeria” is an exhibition of the 35 most fascinating tourism destinations in Nigeria, compiled by Uko in 2020.

In 2020, Uko led a search trip to identify and market the tourism destinations peculiar to each state of the country, which he tagged “Seven Wonders of Nigeria”.

Some of the tourism destinations identified include: Obudu Mountain in Cross River; Ado Awaye Suspended Lake in Oyo; Riyom Rock in Plateau; Owu Waterfall in Kwara; Badagry Beach in Lagos State, Mambila Plateau in Taraba and more.

The “Seven Wonders of Nigeria” exhibition has a display of the pictorial representation of the identified iconic destinations right from the entrance of the museum through to its entire surrounding, giving the museum some facelift.

The exhibition installations

Also, in the spirit of celebration and quest to further project the museum as an attractive tourist destination, the practitioners engaged in painting some portions of the tourist site.

They also renovated the ceilings, lightings and many other things.

Unveiling the exhibition, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, former Director-General of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), harped on the significance of the exhibition.

Runsewe commended Uko for his remarkable contributions toward the growth of the tourism, travels, aviation and hospitality industries.

Nigerian folklorist and dancer, Adeola Adebo, popularly known as “Ire D Stage Devi”, in an electrifying stagecraft perfomed in honour of the celebrator as she rendered prayers for him.

She said, “There is no Ire without Ikechi Uko, this is 20 years of supporting me as an artiste after attending an edition of AKWAABA Travel Market with the quest to perform, which you made me fulfill and you have been supporting me since then.

“Thank you for introducing AKWAABA African Travel Market and for supporting everyone in the tourism value chain.”

Also, Stella Fubara, a tourism consultant, described Uko as a fellow with great spirit and passion for the tourism industry.

The Managing Director of SAHCO, Mr Basil Agboarumi, said, “you have made great impact and I pray this emerge as a new season for you.”

Mr Linus Kingi, Curator of the National Museum in Lagos, said that Uko had truly distinguished himself as a tourism, aviation and hospitality expert.

“Uko has paid attention to the promotion of historical sites.

“The museum management appreciates the legacy laid here today with this exhibition and improving on the appearance of the museum.

“This will go a long way in attracting more visitors here,” he said.

Responding, Uko appreciated his colleagues for their display of love, saying, “I am really surprised; thank God; I do not have any heart condition.

“This will either spur me to retire and do something else because this exhibition is a great legacy for me, or I do more, touching people’s lives because we are not playing at the highest tourism growth yet.”

Speaking further on the growth of tourism, he said, “With what I have heard and seen in other nations, I have observed that tourism cannot work without government. Nigerian government has to sit up and we have the required skills and network.

“Going forward, I wish to do more for the industry and break more grounds. I have learnt and suffered a lot and it is time to put things together.”

Akonitv reports that Uko is the convener of Abuja Bantaba, AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market and AccraWeizo in Ghana.

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Culture

Crowds Gather for Rare Sunrise at Egypt’s Abu Simbel Temple

Published

2 weeks ago

October 23, 2026

David Ogunjobi

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple to witness the twice-yearly sunrise ceremony illuminating Pharaoh Ramses II’s statue

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple on Thursday to witness a spectacular sunrise phenomenon in which sunlight illuminated the face of the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II, an event that occurs only twice a year.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The ancient astronomical ceremony drew visitors from different parts of the world to the archaeological site in southern Egypt on October 22, one of two dates associated with the phenomenon.

The second occurrence takes place on February 22, when the rising sun illuminates the temple’s interior.

Egyptian tour guide Yasser Fouad described the occasion as extraordinary, saying some visitors had stayed overnight to secure the opportunity to witness the event.

“Today is an extraordinary day, everyone is keen, there are people who stayed over the night, foreigners who actually spent the night in Abu Simbel to see this phenomenon,” Fouad said.

The Great Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel dates back to the 13th century BC and is among Egypt’s most prominent archaeological attractions.

Built during the reign of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, the temple is renowned for its monumental statues and sophisticated architectural design.

The twice-yearly sunrise phenomenon is a major attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness the interaction between sunlight and the temple’s ancient structure.

The dates have traditionally been associated with significant moments in Ramses II’s life.

October 22 is commonly linked to his birthday, while February 22 is associated with his accession to the throne.

However, the precise historical reasons behind the dates remain debated.

Some archaeologists have proposed alternative explanations, including that they may have marked the pharaoh’s coronation and birthday.

Abu Simbel underwent a major international rescue operation in the 1960s, when archaeologists and engineers relocated the temples to protect them from flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

The monumental structures were cut into large blocks and reassembled at a higher location, preserving the site for future generations.

The relocation was one of the most significant archaeological preservation projects of the 20th century.

Despite the move, the temple continues to attract visitors for its ancient Egyptian art, monumental architecture and remarkable alignment with the rising sun.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The annual gatherings highlight the enduring appeal of Egypt’s archaeological heritage and the continuing fascination with the astronomical knowledge and engineering achievements of its ancient civilisation.