Talk about one accomplished professional who has been consistently consistent in her career and her name will pop up. She is blessed with good looks, carriage and a good voice. She speaks well. She is one woman who has risen to the top of her career and who represents Nigeria’s Culture everywhere she goes. As a matter of policy, she dresses Nigerian. She loves to wear her Iro & Buba proudly and loves to tie her headgear also. That is why many call her Madam Tourism.
Mrs. Omotayo Anthonia Omotosho, MFR, (nee Badejo) is a woman who has paid her dues in the Tourism sector. She is the first lady to be appointed Chairman, Governing Board of Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, LSBC in 1996….25 years ago by the then Lagos State Military Governor, General Buba Marwa.
She was saddled with the responsibility of reforming the LSBC & to ensure Completion/ Commissioning of the Eko FM project in record time!
After successfully completing her tenure and achieving the Mandate given to her by the Lagos State Government, she was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the National level as DIRECTOR-GENERA, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation NTDC Abuja. This was at a time when Nigeria was tagged a Pariah State, having experienced several Military Administrations as a Nation and no one wanted to visit Nigeria for Tourism or leisure….In 1999, we were just transiting from Military Rule to Civilian regime – So being appointed few months later to promote NIGERIA AS A TOURIST DESTINATION WAS A TOUGH ORDER….BUT WITH GOD ON HER SIDE, OMOTAYO OMOTOSHO ROSE UP TO THE CHALLENGE LIKE A STALLION, AS IT WAS A NATIONAL CALL!!
This lady, Omotayo Omotosho, again, the first lady to be so appointed as DG- NTDC, took the bull by the horn. She pioneered Private/Public sector partnerships for Tourism development. She had to start thinking out of the box. She initiated a strategy called- CORPORATE PARTNERS FOR TOURISM DEVPT- CPTD. This brought a total turnaround to the sector.
Coupled with this, she initiated the establishment of the Presidential Council on Tourism (PCT) as DG, through a memo she presented to her Hon. Minister for Transmission to Mr President/ Executive Council approval.
The approval of the PCT jump-started the Tourism sector in Nigeria, in collaboration with State Governors, relevant Ministers, Hoteliers & Tourism Operators from d Private sector.
With Omotayo’s wealth of experience in the Media as an Entrepreneur, developing & promoting our Nation’s Tourism assets wasn’t too difficult a task for her to accomplish…..Various Tourism products were created & developed during her very successful tenure of office. We recall all she did from the year 2000 to 2004.
To mention a few….the Black heritage festival in Lagos State during Governor Bola Tinubu, the Oshun Osogbo Cultural festival, the Arugungu fishing festival in Kebbi State, the Obudu tourist ranch resort with the longest Cable car, the Calabar Carnival in partnership with Governor Donald Duke of Crossriver State, the Yankari National park & game reserve in Bauchi State, the Colourful boat regattas in South-South region of Nigeria, the Swange Dances & Yam festivals of the middle belt, the Mahun festivals of the Southeast, the Gurara waterfalls, Zuma rock, Ushafa pottery village in Ushafa & the beautiful Durbar festivals of the Northern Nigeria to mention a few! Omotayo Omotosho did not leave any zone untouched as DG – Indeed she touched all the 6 Geopolitical Zones in Nigeria, guided by her Conscience and true faith in God, she left no stone unturned.
Little wonder when the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured her with the NATIONAL HONOURS OF MEMBER, FEDERAL REPUBLIC – MFR. Well done Madam Tourism.
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