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ITPN FCT Chapter Ends 3-Day Executive Retreat For Professional Impact, Industry Growth

Published

12 months ago

October 28, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The executive members of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), FCT Chapter, led by the Chairperson, Dr. Fatima Obadaki Sule, have successfully concluded a transformative three-day retreat focused on advancing the 7-point agenda that took cognisance of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the socio economic growth and development of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja in particular and the country as a whole through tourism, hospitality and allied trades sector held in Abuja over the weekend.

In a statement jointly signed by Chairman, ITPN, FCT Chapter Dr. Fatima Obadaki Sule, _FITPN and Publicity Sec. ITPN, FCT Chapter Ahmed Mohammed Sule on Tuesday in Abuja

In his remarks as special guest of honour who also declared the retreat opened, the National President of ITPN, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, called on the leadership of the FCT Chapter of the Institute to lead by example and ensure the interests and objectives of the Institute come first in running the affairs of the Chapter, noting that advancing best professionalism practices amongst all the members should be the guiding principle.

Chief Odusanwo further reiterated that, as torch bearers of the Institute in the nation’s capital, they should constantly seek for collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sector stakeholders and key operators to promote the ideals of professionalism, skills and capacity development, career upscaling and industry best practices that the Institute firmly stands for,

While applauding the idea of holding retreat, he noted the exercise as very apt and timely and a dynamic platform for strategic discussions and collaborative engagement among the EXCOs, aimed at repositioning the chapter for greater professional impact and industry leadership in the travel tourism, hospitality and allied trades in the nation’s capital in line with the federal government’s desire for country’s economic diversification through tourism as the main hub of the non-oil sector.

Earlier in her welcome address, Dr. Fatima Obadaki Sule stated that the idea behind the retreat was to enable members of her executive team to be abreast of her vision and mission statement in the successful piloting of the affairs of the Chapter which she wrapped up in her 7- Points agenda, adding that it explicitly summed up the goals and objectives of the Institute as a body of practising tourism professionals in the country and her utmost goal of placing the FCT chapter of the Institute above all the chapters as the Kapital Centre of Excellence in Tourism.

She reeled out her 7-point agenda, which formed the core of the retreat and includes:

Organize fitness sessions and mental awareness campaigns, mentorship program for youth, strengthen collaboration with key stakeholders, promote sustainable tourism and leverage technological innovations, enhance professional development, raise awareness of tourist attractions in FCT and support local entrepreneurs.

She then solicited for the support and active participation of members of the executive present at the retreat which she said was crucial for the success of the Institute in achieving progress and moving forward as a professional body.

During the three days’ retreat which began on Friday 24th and ended on Sunday 26th, executive members shared insights, reviewed operational practices in the industry sector, proffered laudable ideas and suggestions as well as mapped out actionable plans to achieve the objectives of the 7- Points agenda.

The Retreat proper was kick started with the presentation by the Guest Speaker, Dr. Taiwo Famogbiyele, Registrar of the Institute on his paper which x-rayed the 7- Points Agenda of the Chairperson of the FCT Chapter of the Institute. He noted that the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria is a body of practising professionals and a force to be reckoned with because tourism and hospitality sector remains one of the fastest growing industries and a critical driver of economic diversification, job creation and national image-building.

He noted that the retreat was critical to achieving a well-coordinated team work and for fine-tuning the program plans of the leadership of the Institute at the Chapter level for smooth implementation, adding that it will enhance team unity and cohesion, bring about clear and measurable action framework and improve accountability, programme visibility/sustainability and concluded with a step by step exposition of the 7- Points Agenda bordering on relevance, implementable means and expected impactful outcome of each.

Key highlights of resolutions reached during the retreat among others, includes: Unity and Collaborative Actions by Members; Strategic Leadership through Participation at national events; Leveraging on Internal Expertise and Networks to tap from the resource and expertise of members in critical national programmes; Focus on 3- Pillar Strategic Framework – *Wellness and Fitness Initiatives, *Youth Mentorship and Career Development Programmes to address critical gap in hospitality and tourism education, Sustainable Tourism Practices to address environmental, social and economic sustainability; Critical Stakeholder Engagement encompassing all sub-sectors of the tourism, hospitality and allied trades; Organizational Development Imperatives involving all members; The Integration of Physical and Mental Wellbeing with dedicated sessions on incorporating regular aerobic exercises to combat work-related stress and boost overall resilience among members.

The Executive Retreat which was the first of its kind by any chapter of the Institute across the country, was highly interactive and underscored the need for robust partnerships and team work targeted at members for resilience and show of commitment for the impactful growth and development of the Institute in the interest of professionalizing the tourism sector as well as for nation building.

The retreat ended on a refreshing and uplifting note, with members recommitting to the 7-points agenda and calling for broader stakeholder involvement to foster a vibrant, inclusive tourism ecosystem in the FCT and nationwide. This initiative aligns with the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s national goals for sustainable development as well as position ITPN as a proactive force in Nigeria’s creative, tourism and hospitality industry.

In conclusion, members of the executive at the retreat session took time off on day 3 of the exercise and embarked on an excursion tour of one of the prolific eco-tourism spots in the nation’s capital -The Kaspaland and Kayak Resort, where they refreshed, socialized and networked with a renewed commitment to work together and foster best practices in the hospitality and tourism in collaboration with critical stakeholders to support efforts toward sustainable tourism development in Nigeria.

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Eight Athletes, 11 Medals: Applauding Asagba’s Sports Leadership At DELSU

Published

1 week ago

October 14, 2026

The Gleamer

By Godspower Odedede

Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has recorded an impressive outing at the 15th West Africa University Games (WAUG) 2026, winning 11 medals with just eight athletes who represented the university in only three sporting events.

The university won seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals to occupy seventh position on the medal table, an achievement that underscores the potential of its athletes and the importance of purposeful investment in university sports.

DELSU participated in the men’s 100-metre sprint with two athletes, women’s judo with two athletes, and swimming with four male athletes. Despite the limited number of athletes and sporting events, the university’s medal haul was a commendable performance and a source of pride for the institution.

The achievement deserves particular recognition given the restricted scope of DELSU’s participation. With representation in only three sports, the university demonstrated that focused preparation, adequate support and the effective deployment of available talent can produce encouraging results at major university competitions.

A major highlight of DELSU’s preparation for WAUG 2026 was the approval by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for a quality two-week training programme for the university’s athletes in Asaba.

The camp provided the athletes with an opportunity to prepare using the excellent and up-to-date training facilities available in the state capital.

The initiative is particularly noteworthy as it represents a significant commitment to structured preparation for university sports. Rather than relying solely on athletes’ natural abilities, the training programme recognised the importance of preparation, access to appropriate facilities and institutional investment in performance.

Professor Asagba deserves commendation for this intervention and for demonstrating a willingness to provide practical support for sports development at DELSU. The university’s WAUG performance offers an encouraging indication of what can be achieved when athletes receive purposeful preparation and administrative backing.

The Vice-Chancellor’s broader vision for sports infrastructure is also encouraging. Plans are understood to be underway for the construction of an ultra-modern sports complex for the university in the near future. If delivered as anticipated, the facility could significantly strengthen DELSU’s capacity for athlete development, training, competitions and sports science activities.

Such infrastructure would also support the university’s ambitions to improve its performance at national and international university games. A modern sports complex could provide a foundation for more systematic talent identification, performance monitoring, coaching development and the preparation of athletes across a wider range of sporting events.

Special recognition must also go to Mrs Epebi-Ebi Noah, the swimming coach, who was physically present at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with the DELSU swimming team during the competition. Her presence and involvement underline the importance of coaching support, technical guidance and close supervision of athletes during major sporting events.

The performance also calls for commendation of the Chairman of the University Sports Committee, Professor Ochuko Nabofa, whose leadership has brought renewed attention and energy to sports development at DELSU. His role in supporting the university’s sports administration and helping to strengthen the sporting environment deserves recognition.

Similarly, the Acting Director of Sports, Peter Omojuwa, deserves commendation for his administrative responsibilities and contribution to the university’s sporting programme. The Chief Coach, Lucky Ajaino, should also be recognised for his role in the technical preparation and development of DELSU athletes.

The combined efforts of the university management, sports committee, sports administrators and coaches are essential to sustaining progress. While medals provide a visible measure of success, the systems established to prepare athletes and support their development are equally important to the long-term growth of university sports.

DELSU’s WAUG achievement follows another notable outing at the last Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games, where the university finished fourth. That result was regarded as one of the finest performances in the institution’s sporting history and strengthened expectations that DELSU could become an even more formidable force in university sports.

The latest WAUG performance provides another reason for optimism. However, the university’s participation in only three events also reveals an opportunity for further growth. Expanding participation across more sports, identifying talented students and improving access to specialised training could help DELSU compete for a higher position on future medal tables.

The proposed sports complex, if realised, could play a central role in this expansion. It should ideally be supported by sustained funding, modern equipment, qualified coaches, athlete welfare programmes and collaboration with relevant sports science professionals. These measures would help ensure that infrastructure investment translates into measurable improvements in performance.

The university could also consider strengthening performance analysis, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, talent identification and systematic monitoring of athletes’ progress. Such an approach would help transform individual successes into a sustainable university-wide sports development programme.

DELSU’s performance at WAUG 2026 is worthy of celebration. Eight athletes competed in just three sporting events and returned with 11 medals, including seven gold. The result reflects the potential within the university and provides a strong basis for building a more ambitious sports programme.

Professor Asagba’s approval of the two-week training camp and the prospect of an ultra-modern sports complex offer reasons to look forward to the next phase of DELSU sports development. The challenge now is to sustain the momentum, broaden participation and ensure that the university’s sporting ambitions are matched by consistent investment and effective implementation.

With continued support from the Vice-Chancellor, the University Sports Committee, the Directorate of Sports, coaches and other stakeholders, DELSU can build on its recent achievements and strengthen its position among Nigeria’s leading sporting universities.

The message from WAUG 2026 is clear: DELSU has demonstrated what a small but well-supported contingent can achieve. With broader participation, sustained preparation and modern sporting infrastructure, the university has the potential to accomplish even greater things.

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