Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji Wins 2024 Best Tourism Leader Award
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has been named the Best Tourism Governor of 2024 by the organisers of the Traveller’s Awards and Akwaaba Travel Market. The honour was given in recognition of his strong efforts to improve tourism in his state and in Nigeria as a whole.
The announcement was made by the Africa Travel Quarterly (ATQ) Magazine, the team behind the yearly travel and tourism event. They said that the award will officially be presented to Governor Oyebanji on September 15 at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos.
According to the organisers, Oyebanji won the award with 89.5 percent of the total votes from tourism experts across West Africa. The President of ATQ, Ikechi Uko, said this is because of the governor’s new ideas and leadership in the tourism sector.
Oyebanji is the first Nigerian governor to introduce both a State Tourism Policy and a Tourism Development Master Plan. He also created a special Bureau of Tourism Development, which he personally supervises. These are all part of his plan to make tourism a key part of Ekiti’s growth.
The event where the award will be given will attract tourism professionals, investors, culture promoters, and government leaders from all over Africa and other parts of the world. It will be a major event in the African tourism calendar.
The Director-General of Ekiti’s Bureau of Tourism Development, Wale Ojo-Lanre, said the award is proof of Oyebanji’s dedication to tourism. He thanked the people of Ekiti for working with the governor to achieve this dream.
He also said places like Ikogosi Warm Springs and Abanijorin Rock, along with the state’s food festivals and tourism fairs, have made Ekiti a popular destination. He added that their goal is to continue delivering the governor’s tourism plans quickly and with high standards.
This award places Ekiti State on the tourism map of Africa and highlights how strong leadership can change the face of local tourism. Governor Oyebanji’s win is seen as a win for all of Nigeria’s tourism sector.
