By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) celebrated the outgoing Director-General (DG), Chief Folorunsho Coker, in a heartfelt send forth ceremony at the Authority’s Village Hall on Tuesday. The event honored Coker’s remarkable leadership over the past eight years, during which the NTDA witnessed significant transformations in Nigeria’s tourism landscape.
Coker’s achievements were highlighted during the ceremony, including: The enactment of the NTDA Act, which transformed the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) into the NTDA; The enhancement of the ongoing ISO standardization certification which enhanced service quality; Promoting domestic tourism, which resulted into successful launch of the tour Nigeria brand, which has been promoting domestic tourism and; Expansion of the Authority’s organogram to create more employment opportunities.
Others were: Celebrating Nigerian Cuisine, which resulted into nthe Nigerian Flavours initiative, by celebrating the country’s rich culinary heritage; Capacity-building programs and training for staff to improve efficiency and service delivery; Digital transformation and global partnerships with Google, Meta, and Wikipedia that have enhanced Nigeria’s online tourism visibility; Industrial peace and improved staff management relations in NTDA; Digitalisation of registration and accreditation of all tourism and hospitality, a project 90% near completion.
In his farewell address, Coker expressed his deep gratitude to the Directors and staff, emphasizing that these achievements were a collective effort. He urged staff to uphold his legacy, maintain professionalism, foster unity, discourage tribalism, and promote love and cooperation among colleagues.
