The essence and contributions of Otunba Ayodele Olumoko have again come to the fore as he has been elected the National Vice President, South-West, of the Institute of Tourism Professionals of Nigeria, ITPN.
Olumoko has, in the past decade and more, been one of the most impactful catalysts for the development of the industry, particularly synonymous with the continued expansion of the Osun Osogbo Festival.
The institute’s President, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo FITPN, extolled saluted Olumoko as a dedicated Fellow of the Institute who has put in his very best to place it on a sound footing.
Odusanwo said this during Olumoko’s induction as the National Vice President, South West zone of ITPN.
Chief Odusanwo, who made the commendation while presenting the Certificate of Office to Olumoko at the Headquarters of the institute in Abuja on Thursday 6th January 2022, said he had been one of the founding fathers and promoters of culture and tourism in the country and whose contributions has impacted positively well on ITPN in the uplift of its tenets and ideals for the growth of the institution.
Speaking further, Chief Odusanwo called on other members of the institute to emulate Otunba Olumoko by remaining steadfast as it’s ambassadors in the promotion of its aims and objectives to the larger Nigerian society and importantly, to critical key players and stakeholders in the travel, tourism, culture, hospitality and creative industry as well as its allied branches.
He noted that ITPN had four major mandates which are to develop and administer qualifications; approve and monitor training centres and learning providers as certificate Awarding body; to provide continuous professional development for private sector operators and public service personnel and to award recognised certificates and membership for every category of staff at different levels of skills in the tourism, and allied areas of the industry.
In his acceptance speech, Otunba Olumoko said he felt highly honoured with the continuous call to professional service which according to him will spur him into offering greater and better services to the Institute in particular and the country’s travel, tourism and hospitality industry at large.
He noted that tourism, especially cultural-tourism, remained one of the country’s untapped goldmines that, if properly harnessed, had the potential to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty through job provisions and employment opportunities.
Olumoko then called on all key players and stakeholders in the industry to join hands with ITPN in its efforts to enhance professional practices and conducts of both private sector practitioners and public service personnel to enable the industry provide better quality service delivery as well as help in salvaging Nigerian economy for better growth and development.
The Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria is the Nigerian premier national certification and professional membership body for hospitality, travel-tourism and allied occupations. It represents members working in the public, private and non-profit making organizations which ensures the highest standards of professional competence of practitioners in the Nigerian tourism and hospitality industry.
