In recognition of the important role of the Lagos State House of Assembly Chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, a delegation of tourism advocates led by the Lagos State Chapter Chairman, Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), who doubles as the MD/CEO of Eko Destination Ltd Hon. Apata and his team stormed the Lagos House of Assembly recently.

The delegation led by the ATPN Chairman also had in attendance Hon. Buhari Mohammed, Dr Abiodun Lasisi, Mr Ayodeji Moore and Edward Emmanuel paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu representing Badagry Constituency 1 and by extension, the Chairman of House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The primary agenda of this visit was to brief the Chairman and draw his attention to the significance of the Destination Lagos Awards, an initiative aimed at recognising outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of tourism in the state.

The advocates, eager to garner support from the legislative body, presented the details of the Destination Lagos Awards to the House Members.

According to the delegation, the mission of the planned award is to celebrate individuals and entities that have played pivotal roles in elevating Lagos as a premier tourist destination.

The conviction as expressed by the advocates emphasises the potential impact of the awards in encouraging sustained efforts towards the growth and improvement of the state’s tourism sector.

In response to the mission of the Tourism Advocates, their host, Hon. Bonu, lauded the foresight of the ATPN delegates to the proposal, expressing genuine interest in the Destination Lagos Awards.

He said the planned recognition and acknowledgment of the genuine contributions by stakeholders in the tourism and allied sector has become imperative and a welcome development, saying the initiative was well and lauded the commitment of the group to tourism development in Lagos State.

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The house committee chairman pledged his support for the event, affirming the role of the legislative body in fostering an environment conducive for tourism to flourish in Lagos.

The meeting concluded with a sense of optimism and collaboration, as Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu assured the advocates of his commitment to championing the cause of the Destination Lagos Awards within the House of Assembly.

The advocates, in turn, honoured him with Grand Ambassador for the maiden edition of the award, and expressed their gratitude for the chairman’s openness and support, saying the gesture has set the stage for collaboration between the legislative body and those dedicated to propelling Lagos into a world-class tourist destination.

Reacting to an inquiry by Travel and Leisure, Hon. Apata said: “Motives behind Destination Lagos Awards is to use this tourism product to further increase numbers of visitors, create a positive and appealing image of the destination in the minds of potential travelers and unearth economic benefits for the local community and businesses.

“Destination Lagos Awards, the first of its kind in Lagos seeks to identify, appreciate and motivate tourism stakeholders who have over the years contributed their quota to making Lagos a global tourism brand.

“Our mission at Eko Destination Ltd is to serve as a practical tool to help destinations focus on the relevant factors in growing and maintaining tourism as a beneficial and vital part of Lagos communities in line with the government’s agenda and also committed to the promotion of hidden treasures and attractions of Lagos and Nigeria at large.

He added: “Over a year of establishment, we’ve been able to sustain our strategic promotion of Lagos as a global Destination through community-based tourism, a dedicated tourism digital radio, acquisition of foreign tourism collaborations and recipients of local and foreign awards.

He revealed that another grand event for the year includes the “Oju Ibile Eko Beauty Pageant” and various empowerment engagements.

I am pleased to introduce the esteemed members of the first-ever Destination Lagos Awards nomination committee after much consideration.

This committee comprises diverse seasoned professionals with expertise in various tourism-related fields, they will bring a wealth of experience and dedication to ensure a thorough and fair evaluation process for the upcoming awards.

In another development, the organisers of the Destination Lagos Awards have constituted a 15-man awards nomination committee headed by Mr. Frank Meke as Chairman.

Meke is a syndicated columnist with a special interest in rural development, tourism, culture and natural resources engagement in wildlife and conservation.