Tour Operators in Nigeria and some other big shots within and outside Nigeria in the tourism space yesterday hosted Ambassador Ikechi Uko to a surprise birthday party as he turned 60.

Mr. Uko is a tourism legend in Nigeria and the founder of Akwaaba African travel market.

The party was held at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, where he was honoured with a permanent exhibition as tribute to his contributions to the industry.

Uko, was honoured by some tourism and hospitality practitioners with the exhibition named after one of his projects, “Seven Wonders of Nigeria”.

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 tourist 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 surroundings, giving the museum some facelift.

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, travel, aviation and hospitality industries.

Nigerian folklorist and dancer, Adeola Adebo, popularly known as “Ire D Stage Devi”, in an electrifying stagecraft performed 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 fulfil 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.”