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Odusanwo, Badaki Receive NASTOCE 2026 Meritorious Awards for Advancing Sports Tourism

Published

3 months ago

July 14, 2026

Cyril Ogar

The National President of Ringo Sport Club Nigeria (RSCN), Malam Ahmed Mohammed Sule, has presented the prestigious National Sports Tourism Conference and Exhibition (NASTOCE) 2026 Meritorious Awards to two of Nigeria’s foremost tourism leaders in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the growth of the country’s tourism industry and sports tourism development.

The recipients are the National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, and the President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Dr. Badaki Aliyu.

The awards were presented during separate ceremonies at the recipients’ offices in Abuja.

Speaking during the presentations, Sule said the honours were in recognition of the recipients’ exceptional leadership, professionalism and strategic contributions towards strengthening tourism development while promoting the growing synergy between sports and tourism as catalysts for Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

According to him, Chief Odusanwo has distinguished himself as a transformative leader whose efforts have significantly advanced the professionalisation of Nigeria’s tourism sector.

He noted that under Odusanwo’s leadership, the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria has continued to champion standards, capacity building and competitiveness within the industry, positioning it for sustainable growth.

Sule also highlighted Odusanwo’s wealth of international experience, which includes tourism consultancy, harmonisation of tourism education in Europe, advisory roles to the World Bank and the World Trade Organization on Nigeria’s trade policy, as well as his leadership as Chairman of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s National Mirror Committee on Tourism and Related Services.

The Ringo Sport Club President equally commended Dr. Badaki Aliyu for his unwavering commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s tourism industry through the Tourism Transformation Movement initiative.

He explained that the initiative focuses on institutional strengthening, policy advocacy, public-private partnerships, capacity development, as well as greater inclusion of youths and women in tourism leadership.

Sule described Dr. Badaki as a respected tourism practitioner whose leadership journey—from Blissy Hospitality to serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hotel Managers Association of Nigeria (HATMAN) and now President of FTAN—has been marked by advocacy for unity, recovery and strategic collaboration across the tourism ecosystem.

He said the recognition of both leaders underscores the importance of visionary leadership and professionalism in driving Nigeria’s sports tourism agenda.

According to him, their commitment to excellence and collaboration will continue to unlock the enormous socio-economic opportunities that exist at the intersection of sports and tourism.

Responding to the honour, Dr. Badaki Aliyu applauded Ringo Sport Club for pioneering Nigeria’s first platform dedicated to bringing together key stakeholders from both the sports and tourism sectors to explore the economic opportunities within the sports tourism value chain.

He said the initiative has created an avenue for government institutions and private sector operators to forge meaningful partnerships capable of transforming sports tourism into a major contributor to the nation’s economy.

While pledging the continued support of private sector operators in the tourism industry to the activities of the Ringo Sport Club, Dr. Badaki urged the Federal Government to institutionalise the collaboration between sports and tourism through the establishment of a National Council on Sports Tourism.

Similarly, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo congratulated the Ringo Sport Club for successfully organising the maiden National Sports Tourism Conference and Exhibition (NASTOCE), describing the initiative as a landmark achievement for both sectors.

He expressed appreciation for the National Sports Tourism Meritorious Award (NASTMA), noting that the recognition would further motivate him to intensify efforts aimed at building a globally competitive workforce while advancing the professionalisation of Nigeria’s travel, tourism, hospitality and allied industries.

The maiden edition of NASTOCE, held on May 12, 2026, was themed “Leveraging the Intersection of Multi-Sectoral MDAs to Promote Sports Tourism in Nigeria.”

The conference, the first of its kind in Nigeria, was established as an annual event to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, investment promotion, networking and collaboration among stakeholders in the sports and tourism industries.

Organisers have already confirmed that the second edition of the conference will take place from May 4 to 5, 2027, with expectations that it will further strengthen partnerships and showcase the immense economic potential of sports tourism as a driver of national development.

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Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

Published

22 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.

He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.

The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.

“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.

Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.

He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.

He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.

According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.

Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.

He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.

We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.

He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.

Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.

He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.

“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

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