By Omololu Olumuyiwa
Vice President, NANTA Western Zone, Prince Olaleye Abiodun Ajibade
The Western Zone of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has announced its 4th Annual Symposium, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The symposium will be held at the Rotary Club of Ibadan House, Oyebode Crescent, Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan, under the theme, “Africa for Africans: The Role of Policy Makers and Tour Operators Towards Sustainable Destination Management, Growth and Development.”
According to a statement issued by the zone’s Public Relations Officer, Adewale Dada, the symposium is designed to provide a strategic platform for policymakers, travel and tourism professionals, tour operators, academics and other industry stakeholders to explore policies, innovations and practical strategies for sustainable destination management and tourism development.
Participants are expected from the six states within the NANTA Western Zone—Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara.
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo Babalola, Director of the Africa Travel Commission (ATC) and Professor of Hotel Management and Tourism at Atiba University, Oyo.
The guest speaker is Mr. Ernest Kwado Agyarko Gyekye, Board Chairman of SAFARI Valley ECO Resort, Ghana.
Other speakers and panellists include Hajiya (Mrs.) Bolaji Mustapha, President of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP); Dr. (Mrs.) Moji Davids, Group Managing Director of Heritage Farms and Resorts; and Dr. Kola Lawal, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and Coordinator of the Oyo State Tourism Development Corporation.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Vice President of NANTA Western Zone, Prince Olaleye Abiodun Ajibade, described the symposium as an opportunity for travel and tourism professionals to gain fresh industry insights and reposition their businesses for greater competitiveness.
Ajibade urged travel and tourism practitioners to attend with key members of their staff, noting that the sessions would provide actionable knowledge to enhance service quality and strengthen business competitiveness.
He also disclosed that certificates of participation would be presented to attendees at the end of the programme.
The symposium will commence at 11:00 a.m. prompt and is expected to deepen conversations around the effective management and promotion of Africa’s tourism destinations while exploring sustainable opportunities for economic growth.
The NANTA Western Zone also urged members of the media and other industry stakeholders to participate in the symposium as part of broader efforts to advance tourism development in Nigeria and across Africa.
