Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has been named Best Tourism Governor 2024 by the Traveller’s Awards and the Akwaaba Travel Market.
The Board of Management and Directors of Africa Travel Quarterly (ATQ) Magazine, organisers of the annual event, announced Oyebanji as the winner of the prestigious award.
According to the organisers, the award will be formally presented to the governor at the Akwaaba ceremony scheduled for 15 September at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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Ikechi Uko, President of ATQ Magazine, said the Ekiti governor received an overwhelming 89.5 per cent of votes cast by tourism stakeholders across West Africa. He described Oyebanji as the first Nigerian governor to initiate both a State Tourism Policy and a Tourism Development Master Plan.
The governor also established a dedicated Bureau of Tourism Development under his direct supervision, alongside other landmark reforms.
The organisers noted that the event would bring together global travel professionals, investors, cultural icons, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond.
Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, said the award affirms Oyebanji’s unwavering commitment to advancing tourism in the state.
“This honour is a validation of Governor Oyebanji’s visionary leadership and the collective effort of the people of Ekiti,” Ojo-Lanre said.
“From Ikogosi to Abanijorin Rock, from our gastronomy showcases to international fairs, Ekiti has risen as the heartbeat of tourism in Nigeria. Our mandate remains clear to deliver the Governor’s vision with speed, professionalism, and excellence.”