Connect with us

Celebrity

Karl Hala, Kelani Continental Hotel, NRC, Stanbic IBTC Others Honoured At NTTSUMMIT Award Nite

Published

on


Joel Ajayi 


Karl Hala is the Group General Manager of Continental Hotels (Lagos and Abuja) who received the individual category Lifetime Achievement Award in Hospitality Leadership 2025. Hala is a highly experienced award winning hospitality leader, known as ‘Africa’s hospitality guru. With an experience spanning over 50 years in hospitality management across Africa, he is redeveloping and redefining luxury in hospitality service focusing on youth training and championing African Tourism through innovative, tech driven strategies that earned him Nigerian Hospitality Legend.

The Dinner and Award Nite ceremony which was attended by dignitaries and industry icons across the Nigerian Travel-Tourism and Hospitality industry, was the climax of activities lined up for the 2025 National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo with the theme: Tourism Transportation Connectivity: Accelerating the Synergy for National Socio-Economic Growth and Development, held from Tuesday 2nd to Wednesday 3rd December, 2025 at the Palme D’or Event Centre in Abuja.

Other recipients of the individual category award include: Hon. Gift John-bull, who bagged the Excellence award in Community Empowerment & Inclusive Governance; Hon. Abolaji J. Kelani, received award for Visionary Leadership in Aviation and Tourism Training; Mrs. Feyikemi Arolasafe, Distinguished Leadership Award in Culinary Art and Professional Excellence; Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo, Honorary Award for Exemplary Leadership in Tourism Development and Capacity Building; Hon. (Princess) Surah Olayemi Animashaun, Award For Exemplary Local Government Tourism Promotion and Development; Otunba Akogun Wale Raji Anomo, Award Of Excellence in Cultural Heritage Preservation; Mrs. Olushekun Bibilomo, Outstanding Public Service Award in Sustainable Tourism Development and Dr. Charles Chinedum Elechi,  Outstanding Visionary Leadership Award in Transportation Administration.

Stanbic IBTC went home with the Award For Outstanding Support for Tourism & Transportation in Nigeria in the banking category. While in the Aviation sector, Aeroport College Of Aviation and Travel Management got the Award For Distinguished Performance in Aviation Training and Travel Operations and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) received the Leadership Award in Aviation Training and Capacity Building.

In the travel and tour category, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies NANTA, got the Distinguished Service Award for Aviation Compliance and Excellence, the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators bagged the Distinguished Service Award for Tourism Destination Promotion, while in the Airline Award category, Aero Contractors won the Life Time Achievement Award for Immense Contribution to the Nigerian Aviation industry.

Under the Agency Award category, Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority (LASWA) received the Outstanding Maritime Infrastructure Development and Inland Waterways Innovation Award; the Nigerian Shippers Council bagged the Award For Strengthening Inland Trade and Regional Cargo Connectivity.


In the hospitality category, QMDCI got the Distinguished Achievement Award in Hospitality Training and Culinary Arts and the Abuja Continental Hotel got the Outstanding Hospitality Excellence Award. Under the Transportation category, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) won the Excellence in Rail Transport Resilience and Strategic Growth Award.


Conferring the honour on the deserving recipients, the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Organizing Committee and National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, admonished the awardees to be good ambassadors of the industry at all times and remain steadfast in their professional callings by doing their best to excel.  

He said the awards were meant to spur the recipients to double their efforts in the promotion of the Nigerian travel tourism and hospitality industry to greater heights.

Continue Reading

Celebrity

Mariaa Voice expands gospel music mission with ‘Akoko Mi’ and four-volume CCC Hymns series

Published

on

Maria Abimbola Iyaomolere, popularly known as Mariaa Voice, is expanding the scope of her gospel music ministry with a growing body of work that combines original inspirational music with a deliberate effort to preserve and promote the rich hymn tradition of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).

Following the release of her inspirational single, “Akoko Mi (My Season),” Mariaa Voice has continued to build on a musical journey that increasingly reflects both her artistic identity and her desire to use music as a vehicle for faith, learning and spiritual upliftment.

“Akoko Mi,” which translates to “My Season,” carries a message of hope, patience and divine timing. Re…
[9:59 am, 31/08/2026] Wikipedia Guy: Mariaa Voice expands gospel music mission with ‘Akoko Mi’ and four-volume CCC Hymns series

Maria Abimbola Iyaomolere, popularly known as Mariaa Voice, is expanding the scope of her gospel music ministry with a growing body of work that combines original inspirational music with a deliberate effort to preserve and promote the rich hymn tradition of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).

Following the release of her inspirational single, “Akoko Mi (My Season),” Mariaa Voice has continued to build on a musical journey that increasingly reflects both her artistic identity and her desire to use music as a vehicle for faith, learning and spiritual upliftment.

“Akoko Mi,” which translates to “My Season,” carries a message of hope, patience and divine timing. Released in 2026, the song presents a declaration that seasons change, doors open and transformation comes at the appointed time. Its accompanying visual further reinforces the message of trusting the process and remaining hopeful for what lies ahead.

For Mariaa Voice, however, the song represents only one part of a broader musical assignment.

A particularly significant aspect of her recent work has been the CCC Hymns project, which has now grown to four volumes. The project brings together hymns from the Celestial Church of Christ, with Mariaa Voice intentionally selecting many songs that are not among the more commonly known hymns regularly heard in church settings.
According to the gospel minister, some of the selections also draw from newer hymns contained in the CCC New Revised Standard version, allowing the project to introduce listeners to a wider range of the church’s musical heritage.
“So far I have done CCC HYMNS VOL 1, 2, 3 & 4,” she said, explaining the motivation behind the project.
“The majority of the hymns in each album are not the common ones, some are new hymns included in the CCC New Revised Standard version.”

For Mariaa Voice, the project goes beyond recording and releasing music. It is also an effort to help people discover and learn hymns that they may otherwise have little opportunity to encounter.

“The main reason behind it is not just to showcase the beautiful and spirit-filled hymns God has given the church, but it’s also an avenue for people to actually learn to sing these hymns,” she explained.

That approach has given the project a distinctive place within her growing catalogue. Rather than concentrating solely on contemporary gospel sounds, Mariaa Voice is using her vocal ability and recording experience to bring renewed attention to a repertoire rooted in the worship tradition of the Celestial Church of Christ.
Her official catalogue now features four volumes of the CCC Hymns project alongside original songs including “IRE,” “ORI MI,” “Sin Oluwa,” “Se’yanú” and “Oti Funmilayo.”
The development represents a natural progression for an artiste whose musical journey began in the church.

As previously documented, Mariaa Voice’s early exposure to music came through the church choir, including her time with the “Little Angels” choir, before her talent was recognised and she was encouraged to pursue music professionally.

Over the years, that foundation has developed into a career spanning gospel music, songwriting, recording, performance and voice-over artistry. Her repertoire has also demonstrated a willingness to explore different contemporary gospel influences while maintaining a strong emphasis on positive and uplifting messages.

With “Akoko Mi,” that message remains central.
The song is built around the reassurance that delay does not mean denial and that every individual has a season ordained for them.
“Akoko Mi (My Season) is not just a song, it’s a declaration,” Mariaa Voice said.
“A reminder that no matter how long it takes, your time will come. Transformation will happen. Doors will open. Grace will speak. Nothing can stop what God has already ordained for you.”
That message has become particularly consistent with the direction of her recent work, music that does not merely entertain but seeks to encourage listeners, strengthen their faith and point them towards hope.
While the CCC Hymns series looks back to a rich worship tradition and helps bring lesser-known hymns to a wider audience, “Akoko Mi” looks forward, offering a contemporary expression of faith and expectation.
Together, the two strands of her recent work reveal an artiste increasingly defining her ministry around both preservation and inspiration, preserving hymns that deserve to be heard while creating new music that speaks to the experiences and expectations of today’s listeners.
With four CCC Hymns volumes now completed and “Akoko Mi” adding another chapter to her catalogue, Mariaa Voice continues to carve out a distinctive space for herself as a gospel minister committed to using her voice not only to perform, but also to teach, inspire and preserve a musical heritage for the next generation.

Continue Reading

Trending

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)