News

Steve Ayorinde at 50: Stakeholders Host Virtual Conference on Post-Covid-19 African Tourism

Published

4 years ago

July 6, 2020

Eric

A rich array of stakeholders in African Tourism and Creative Industry will on Thursday, July 9 converge to deliberate on how best to revive tourism on the continent and how creative and entertainment contents can serve as catalysts for the needed revival after four months of covid-19 pandemic.

The new coronavirus pandemic has triggered an unprecedented crisis in the tourism economy in Africa, but finding immediate recovery and sustenance will be the task of the stakeholders assembled across Africa in a Zoom Webinar designed in Honour of Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the former Commissioner for Tourism Arts & Culture in Lagos State, Nigeria’s sprawling commercial capital.
A journalist, author and culture aficionado, Ayorinde clocks 50 on the day of the conference, Thursday July 9, 2020.

According to a statement issued on Monday by PRM Africa, the Lead Organiser, the virtual conference is designed as a Pan-African event tagged “Close the Gap Conference” with the theme: “Post-COVID-19: For African Tourism to Revive, Reboot & Refocus.” The Zoom webinar with Zoom ID: 93542315938 will run between 12noon and 2pm (WAT).
Participation is FREE but registeration is required on this link: https://bit.ly/CTGwebinar.

The 2-hour conference’ will be moderated by South African Brand and Communication expert, Matlou Tsotetsi together with her Nigerian counterpart, Media Personality and Creative Industry Executive, Olisa Adibua.

Goodwill messages are expected from the Head of Culture, Social Affairs Commission, African Union Commission, (AUC), Angela Martins; and Nigerian Minister of Information, Culture, Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Leading the pack of a well-curated Pan-African panel to drive a sustainable path that will encourage intra-African tourism in-flow in the expected ‘new normal’ are President, Ecoplannet Sarl, Morocco who is also the President of Tourism Leadership Forum, Mr. James MacGregor; Regional Head-West Africa, South African Tourism, Mr. Thekiso Rakolojane; Founder, Villa Sands Hotel Group, Ilha de, Mozambique, Ms. Gisela Antman; Head of International Jury Department, Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt, Ms. Nayera Soliman; and President, West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO) Ms. Ola Wright.

Other panelists include the Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman; Regional Marketing Manager, Kenya Tourism Board, Ms. Fiona Ngesa; Head Tourism, Brand Malawi Campaign, Ms. Janet Kathewera; A&R Manager, Africa for Sony ATV Music Publishing, South Africa, Munya Chanetsa; Founder, Akwaaba African Travel Market, Amb. Ikechi Uko; Chief Executive Officer, W-hospitality Group, Nigeria and Ms. Belinda Nwosu.

As part of the conference, two case studies will be examined as relevant examples of pan-African creative showpiece that tick the tourism and creative content boxes.
For this, insights will be shared by the President and Executive Producer, All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Mr. Mike Dada; and President, Africa Movie Academy Awards, (AMAA) Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.

According to the organisers, this virtual conference celebrates a gentleman, Ayorinde, whose contributions to the development of tourism and creative industry in Lagos, Nigeria are noteworthy.
But more importantly, it also seeks to examine the need to close the gap for renewal and refocus on two levels:

“The need to close the gap among African countries and all the regions of the Continent for better inter-African flow of tourists
as well as the need to close the gap between tourism promoters and creative industry producers so that creative content can serve as catalysts for driving tourism within the Continent post-Covid19 when international inflow of tourists may take a while to pick up.”

The programme will be hosted by PRM Africa Marketing & Communications Ltd in collaboration with The Culture Newspaper (TCN).

Born 9 July 1970, Ayorinde is a renowned Nigerian journalist, media consultant, author and publisher who has devoted close to three decades to promoting the arts, creative enterprise and tourism across the continent.

For enquiries and participation, Please contact Olusola Dada on +234 8063 706 809 or Oluyinka Akanbi on +234 812 426 6662

News

Ex-Gov Bello Stripped of Security Details, Placed on Watchlist

Published

17 mins ago

April 19, 2024

Eric

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has placed Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, on a watchlist, just as the police headquarters in Abuja “ordered the withdrawal of all men attached to his excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former executive governor of Kogi state”.

Bello was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 18 after his absence from the federal high court in Abuja “stalled his arraignment”.

The anti-graft agency alleges that Bello, alongside Alli Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi; and one Daudu Suleiman, diverted about N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi government.

In a statement signed by DS Umar, assistant comptroller of immigration, on behalf of Kemi Nandap, comptroller-general of the NIS, the agency said “the above named person has been placed on watch list”.

“The subject is being prosecuted for breach of trust and money laundering. If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation for further action,” the statement reads.

On April 17, the EFCC ended its siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the house and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.

News

N80.2b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex- Gov Bello Wanted

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Yahaya Bello was declared wanted for offences bordering on economic and financial crimes, with special emphasis to an alleged N82.2 billion fraud.

This was contained in a press statement made available to news men on Thursday.

The statement signed by Commission’s management reads as follows:

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCCfor offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”

News

EFCC Seeks Military’s Help to Arrest Fleeing Ex-Gov Bello

Published

20 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned to April 23, the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello.

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84billion money laundering.

At the sitting, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that Bello was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

Phinro complained that the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity.

Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment.

Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor.

He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter.

He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from the EFCC.

Counsel for the EFCC, however, disagreed with the submission of the counsel to Bello.

The EFCC counsel held that the ruling in the substantive matter on the suit was delivered on March 17, 2024 by the Kogi State High Court.

He cleared the air that the court in its ruling held that for the former governor to be arrested or arraigned, the EFCC must first seek leave from the court to do so.

He said it was in line with that judgment that the EFCC, through an exparte application, filed for the order seeking the arrest of the former governor which was granted by the court.

Counsel for Yahaya Bello, however, insisted before the court that the order for the ex-governor’s arrest was made out of jurisdiction. He said the former governor is not a fugitive, but relying on the order of the Kogi State High Court to take protection.

On Wednesday, EFCC operatives stormed Bello’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja and spent most part of the day attempting to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his successor.

The EFCC subsequently warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

The Commission’s spokesperson said that Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

According to him, culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions,” the statement added.