AKWAABA: AFRICAN TRAVEL MARKET 2012

NANTA PARTNERS AKWAABA AS NEW AIRLINES JOIN

The National association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) is once again partnering with Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM) to grow the only Tourism and Travel Fair in West Africa.

Akwaaba African Travel Market at its 8th edition is the only event in West Africa that brings together travel professionals from many countries, bringing together Airlines, Hotels, Resorts, Tourism Boards, National Parks, Destination Marketers, Travel and Tour operators under one roof for 3days.It will be taking place at Eko hotel and suites from the 22nd to the 24th of October 2012

This comes as Delta Airlines the American mega carrier will be appearing at Akwaaba for the first time joining 12 other global airlines at the exhibition as Qatar airways rejoins.

According Mrs. Ngozi Ngoka, the Publicity secretary of NANTA and the CEO of Zigona Travel and Tours Ltd, “Akwaaba is our own home grown World Travel Market (WTM) and because it meets international standards, being a member of ITTFA, it provides our members an alternative to other global fairs. We are happy to partner with them considering their track record in bringing world tourism wholesalers together in Nigeria. I believe that our members have benefitted immensely from the close collaboration we have had with Akwaaba” 

Meanwhile Mrs. Rita Ikechi Uko representing the organizers said “having NANTA as a partner is a huge plus for our event, we have partnerships with global associations and having a credible national group like NANTA which is the biggest travel association in West Africa completes the circle for us and we are excited to tap on their goodwill and expertise”.

Alhaji Aminu Agoha the president of NANTA will deliver a paper on “the role of NANTA in Aviation and Tourism development in Africa.”

The opening day of the event Monday 22nd of October is the Aviation day with Theme “aviation and Tourism in Africa: the true story. With papers on” The Passenger Bill of Rights “

“The Airports and the Passenger” and “The Weather and Travel ”among others. Day 2 on the 23rd will be Gambian Day and Ghana Days with the showcasing of the best opportunities in these countries., Day 3 the 24th will have the Nigerian day hosted by Ntdc will have training for tour operators in Nigeria and the hospitality seminar with theme “(1) 5 star or fallen star: Standardizing Hotels in Nigeria with Mr. Alex Gassuer The Area Manager Starwood Group(owners of Sheraton,,Le Meridien and Four points hotels)

8th AKWAABA - 1, 500 travel agents, 100 tour operators, 300 travel personality and thousands of visitors. Akwaaba; African Travel Market is the only international Travel Fair in West Africa, a population of 270 million people with 15 countries, numerous airports and the largest number of travelers in Africa. The event takes place on 22nd-24th of October 2012 in Lagos, Nigeria, running its 8th edition and held at the end of October each year. Over the last 7 years Aftm has become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing attendance from over 20 countries, including 12 foreign Airlines and leading African hotel chains. It is open to all as it is “where Africa meets the world”. AKWAABA has been designated by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as the official travel exhibition in Nigeria. It is the only international Travel expo in West Africa in partnership with NTDC, listed by UNWTO, a partner event of Africa Travel Association (ATA) in the region and the only member of ITTFA in West Africa.

KEEPING YOUR HEAD UP...HIGH ABOVE THE STORM - by BEN OKETOLA

Storms used in this book to represent challenges, trials, temptations, problems are inevitable for man as long as he lives. (Job14:1) However there is consolation for those who have heaven’s Insurance policy against such times (Isa. 43:2).

The book gives practical Biblical principles to deal with major storms that come our way:
1. Financial challenges: Ps. 50:10, Hag. 2:8, Isa. 61:6, Gen. 22:14, Phil. 4:19, Matt. 7:7
2. Health challenges: 1 Pet. 2:24, Jer. 8:22, Isa. 53:5
3. Intellectual challenges: Deut. 28:13, Matt. 6:33, James 1:5
4. Past Mistakes: 2 Cor. 5:17, Phil. 3;13-14
5. Fear: False evidences that appear real. John 10:10, Ps. 27:1, 2 Tim 1:7, Ps. 57:4

Why do we face challenges in life?
1. To test your faith: Remember Abraham, Joseph, David even Jesus all faced challenges.
2. To promote you: God will allow you go through so that He can promote you.
3. To develop your character and make you a better person
4. To give double portioned blessing: Isa. 61:7, Job 42:12.

Does God Love me even in the storm: Yes He does for its whom He loves that He disciplines (Heb. 12:6)

The Holy Spirit is there with you during storms to:
1. Anoint you: Isa. 10:27
2. Empower you: Acts 1:8, Micah 3:8
3. Guide you: John 16:13
4. Comfort you: John 14:16

How can you Ride Above the Storms of Life?
1. Praise and Worship God: John 4:23, Ps. 27:6, Ps. 100:1,
2. Prayer: This is the key to overcome any challenge in life 1 Thes. 5:17, James 5:16
3. Giving Thanks to God despite the storm: 1 Chron. 16:8
4. Having the Holy Spirit: When He lives in you, victory is certain. Acts 1:8
5. Speaking in tongues: Mark 16:17, 1 Cor. 14:2,4
6. Have a positive confession and attitude

Put on the whole Armour of God (Eph. 6:11) when you do God makes available to you during storms:
1. His Presence: Ps. 46:1, Ps. 91:15
2. His Power: Phil. 2:10, Matt. 28:18
3. His Provision: Phil. 4:19

The book is further enriched with practical and biblical examples of men and women who went through different challenges pointing out the keys they used to overcome. The new edition of the book has a new title “Solutions To The Challenges Of Life” watch out for it or make your bookings for a copy.

God bless you and have a Victorious month of August!
Committed to your Personal Development.

Ben Oketola

POLICE AGAIN

i think i got the shock of my life yesterday...with the Nigerian Police @ Victoria Island beside Bonny Camp...
I was almost ran over by these group of men in black uniform...d shock was they blame the bike man carrying me careless driving..."how on earth could you say that".
funny enough they left the matter into another man in black who was on duty who knew nothing about the incident...who later demand we bribe him...
to save my God given time I had to give him money after pleading for 35mins but all fell on blocked ears.

but i Promised him of paying more than that money i gave him...

i took his name and id number...

God save our country....

it's getting worse day by day with these men on black...(POLICE)

I'LL come back again.

ITTFA Welcomes Akwaaba: African Travel Market

ITTFA Welcomes Akwaaba:

African Travel Market

ITTFA, the International Tourism Trade Fairs Association, welcomes a new member this month, Akwaaba, African Travel Market based in Lagos, Nigeria.

ITTFA is dedicated to the continual development of the travel trade show industry, increasing participation and setting high standards across Europe and worldwide. Recent changes to entry requirements and the annual fee structure mean that membership is more accessible to smaller and developing shows, as well as more established ones. This underlines one of the primary goals of the Association as it strives to improve travel trade exhibition standards across all markets and help maximize the benefits for both visitors and exhibitors.

Akwaaba; African Travel Market is the only international Travel Fair in West Africa, a population of 270 million people with 15 countries, numerous airports and the largest number of travellers in Africa. The event takes place on 23-25th October in Lagos, Nigeria, running its 6th edition and held at the end of October each year. Over the last 5 years Aftm has become the most important travel marketing platform in the region drawing attendance from over 20 countries, including 12 foreign Airlines and leading African hotel chains. It is open to all as it is “where Africa meets the world”. Akwaaba has been designated by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as the official travel exhibition in Nigeria.

The success of AfTM attracted the presence of the former President of the Gambia Sir Dawda Jawara, the former Secretary General of the British Commonwealth Sir Emeka Anyaoku and the former Vice president of Nigeria, Sir Alex Ekwueme as guests among over 10,000 visitors that attended the event last year. It has become a major fixture in the events calendar for Africa, listed by UNWTO as the only travel event in West Africa. Africa Travel Association (ATA), based in New York, has also signed Akwaaba as its partner event in Africa.

“The organizers of Akwaaba are delighted to belong to the well respected and influential group of global exhibitions represented by ITTFA,” comments Mr Ikechi Uko, CEO of the organising company. “This membership offers us an opportunity to network, learn and operate amongst shows of the highest standards. It offers us the opportunity to provide our audience with the combined experience of our peers in the association thus bringing to the shores of West Africa global best practices in the exhibition business. Membership of this elite group will further position AfTM as an international event that takes place in Africa, integrating the African Travel practitioners into the global community.”

Tom Nutley, Chairman of Reed Travel Exhibitions the organizers of World Travel Market (WTM), has been chairman of ITTFA since he helped to establish the original association in 1992. "Growth markets are an integral part of the future development and success of travel exhibitions and I am delighted that we have this opportunity to build stronger relationships with West Africa. These new growth markets are balanced by the traditional, strong European markets in which we have some excellent tourism trade shows. Encouraging new and improved relationships in the international tourism trade fair industry is a key objective for the association which will further enable all of our members to maximise the tremendous opportunities worldwide".

Director of the Secretariat, Wendy Walker, comments on the appointment, "We are pleased to welcome Akwaaba to the association. Forging stronger relationships with shows in markets such as Africa is a key objective for the association and will further enable all of our members to maximise the tremendous opportunities worldwide".

Sara Armitage Evans

For more information on ITTFA and all our members, please visit, www.ittfa.org

Note: The Lead Speaker for AKWAABA 2010 is, Professor Zahi Hawass Secretary General Supreme Council of Antiquities Egypt.
http://www.africantravelquarterly.com/

My experience with the Nigerian Police

If you have been following my BLOG for some time now you will probably ask me this…”what is my problem with the Nigerian police? Do you hate them that much?
The truth is that I have had a lot of experiences with them that made me to hate the system and not the police it self; I just hate the system that’s all.
If you are a true Nigerian and will like to be frank, you know well what I am talking about. The system has gotten so bad that each day before I leave the house I pray “God help me to stay out of police issue”.

Once a time I was out of office duty, I decide to take a trip down to the popular market in Ikeja called Computer Village, I was actually was carrying my laptop in my shuttle bag on my back, with the news I had been hearing about police doing stop and search once you are carrying a shuttle bag or the laptop bag in case you one is carrying a laptop, I was expectant that day to be stopped by one of them; but not the way I expected it did it came.

Suddenly I felt some one’s grip on my waist trouser very tight, I turned immediately to see who it could, the next thing I heard was “what are you carrying?” a young man roughly dressed holding and shooting the question at me.
“who are you if I may ask?” I angrily asked pulling his grip off me.
“I am a police officer…I said what are you carrying? Flashing an old ID card at me having the flag of Nigeria and the coat of arm @ the left side.

“I am a carrying my laptop of course” I answer him.
“Let me see it and where is the receipt?

I was still angry inside of me which made me ask him a question ignoring his.
“are you sure you are police man?”
“I said let me see your bag” he ask angrily
“am not going to show it to you…police people don’t behave the way you do, if that’s the way you have been harassing people here you can do that to me”

By this time I was getting to his nerves which made him to “ask who are?” this time his face was red.
“that is what you should had asked me in the first place…that is how police are trained to behave, are you sure you are a police officer?”
“you better watch your mouth don’t insult me, before I will call boy to beat you up”
“oh!...you mean you are father of street boys here?” I ask him.
I was angry but carefully making him look foolish before the on lookers standing by the road watching us both.
“you can’t touch me Mr…else” I halt for a second.
I brought out my office ID card and showed it to him, after taking a good look at it he looked back at me with an eye ready to shoot me if at all he’s opportune to have a gun with him.

“is that why you are behaving stubborn?” giving me back my ID card.
“you these……..people that’s how you all behave” please don’t ask me what my ID carries.

I told him you are a disgrace to the police force if really you are one, he feels so ashamed to walk away in the presence of the crowed watching.
Does it simply mean every one that carries a laptop is yahoo yahoo (fraudster?), this is how you guys arrest innocent people and extort money from them even confiscating their properties for no good reasons.
I was angry because the police office so to say just showed to me a level of amateur as a trained one if really he was trained or even a police office.
I concluded that every police officer or as many that must be recruited into the police force must be highly educated and proper trained as one before been given the uniform.

What is your own experience?…

Kindly share it with someone and let them give their opinion.

DAY LIGHT NIGERIAN POLICE ASSAULT TO IT CITIZEN

It’s so amazing how Nigerian police treat its own (citizen).

Today Friday the 16th of July 2010, I left my home as usual to the bus stop to board a bus to the office, as soon as I alight from the bike man that carried me from home I entered a bus just immediately going to my destination. Just as soon as I took my seat at the front beside the driver all I heard was “come down from that bus”, I thought it was me so I raised my head to see who is commanding who, a police man making his way towards me and angrily opened the door commanding me get out of the bus and he jumped in commanding the driver to start the bus.

The driver looks stun, trying to ask “Oga wetin happen…wetin I do?” all the police man can say is “I say move this motor”, about few minutes later two other police men joined their colleague who now is dragging the bus driver on his shirt while other two are slapping and whipping him with coboko him (bus driver).

“Wetin I do na…wetin be my offence?”, is all he utter, this time they have succeed in dragging him out of the bus all three pulling him to enter their van…”u dey ask sey wetin you do?...na dat place you suppose park?, dragging and tearing his clothes, but the bus driver refuses to follow them.

I felt like go to support this boy young man who had left his home with the aim of going to struggle to make money today…but who am I that these ruthless men in black to listen to, I guess it’s the question every onlookers around will ask themselves…”oh poor boy” both women and men cry out.


How I had felt it’s my own blood they are treating this way…it will not have been easy on them three today...it’s all I tell myself.

At last they let him go after much slaps whipping and tearing of his clothes but went away with his Danfo bus key. “Leave them make them go…na only God go fight for you”…words coming from side lookers consoling him (bus driver).

At this I remembered a friend of my father who is in the police force said, that he will never allow his own blood to join any force as long as he is alive,…just think about that.

Is a citizen supposed to be maltreated like this in the public and in his own country?...please do comment.


Is this really the duty of the police man…to its own people?

I think every Nigerian should have the constitution of this Nation and study for us to know our right.

I think I just conclude by the words of my BOSS….

A lot of Nigerians are educated but not many are exposed…

May God help us in this country?

I Am Healed - Tacoma Finale - Jonathan Nelson concert