The News Agency of Nigeria has bagged the Best Travel Online Medium Award by the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies.
Also, Taiye Olayemi, NAN Tourism Correspondent; Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari; and 10 other journalists were inducted into the NANTA Media Hall of Fame.
The awards were conferred on the beneficiaries in Lagos on Wednesday.
Others inducted into NANTA Media Hall of Fame were Frank Meke of The Sun; Wale Olapade, Nigerian Tribune; Ifeoma Okeke, Business Day; and Igbinosa Aituamen, Radio Nigeria.
Others were Chinedu Ezem, Thisday; Franklin Ihejirika, Franknews; Abel Orukpe, Abelnews; Wole Oyebade, The Guardian; and Wole Shadare and Andrew Okungbowa, New Telegraph.
Susan Akporiaye, NANTA National President, said the award was in recognition of many outstanding contributions of the media to the growth of Nigerian travel industry.
She commended the media for projecting the activities of the travel industry in Nigeria over the years.
Akporiaye said: “Our Media Hall of Fame is an expression of our appreciation and love to the Nigerian travel media.
“We at NANTA cannot confidently boast that our years of struggles and prosperity was a process of our strength alone.
“The travel media was with us all the way and the Media Hall of Fame, introduced by my administration, will, henceforth, form the fulcrum of our relationship and become a permanent feature of the history of NANTA.
“NANTA media award didn’t start with me, but I felt we needed to inaugurate it again to encourage best travel reporting practices.”
Akporiaye said the awardees should consider themselves as part of the NANTA family, adding that they should not hesitate to advice the association when necessary.
She added: “As I told Femi Adesina, whom we inducted yesterday in Abuja into the NANTA Media Hall of Fame, we shall not forget your labour of love for the best of our nation and industry.”
Akporiaye said it was a great honour and privilege to work with the media for the good of the nation.
Dayo Adeola, Chairman, NANTA Board of Trustees, commended the media for changing the previous narrative in which members of the trade association were seen as touts.
“I want to say thank you to the media. You have been accommodating us and we really appreciate it,” Adeola said.
Also, Dr. Gbenga Olowo, a veteran travel agent, commended the NANTA president for being innovative and always creating friendships, which had brought lots of business for members of the association.
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