OTUNBA SEGUN RUNSEWE PREPARES FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT

OTUNBA SEGUN RUNSEWE

If the vibes we are getting is anything to go by, then pretty soon the former DG of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation better known as the NTDC, in the person of the indefatigable, former Mr. Tourism himself, who lived, 'breathed' and wore tourism as cloth, Otunba Segun Runsewe might soon be getting another Federal Government appointment. 

The action man who had served meritoriously for several years, even winning awards and getting commendation at the helm of affairs of the tourism board, only for him to have gotten removed abruptly, due to what some people have alleged was as a result of the power play between him and the Minister in charge of his parastatal, High Chief Edem Duke, the Honourable Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation; Might have wormed his way back into the heart & consciousness of those that really counts. Chosen to replace him by the FG after his ouster, is the current NTDC boss in the person of the very gorgeous & super stylish Sally Mbanefo, whose tenure some have alleged to be rather quiet.

Now after being under the radar for many months, quietly networking and bidding his time, the unconfirmed report we have gotten is that he his being prepared for another 'major appointment' that should be announced pretty soon, the only thing said to be delaying it (the announcement) is probably the current 'security situation' in the country. 

Known for his dedication, passion, eloquence and sagacity, it would be another great opportunity for the man of the people to shine, while serving his fatherland all over again.

OUT & ABOUT AT THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL AFRICAN ARTS & FASHION BANQUET IN LONDON AN AFWL PRODUCTION

ALEXANDRA BURKE & PRINCESS FIFI EJINDU

AFWL FOUNDER, RONKE ADEMILUYI & NTDC DG Ms. SALLY MBANEFO

MRS. OBIOMA LIYEL-IMOKE, 1ST LADY OF CROSS-RIVER STATE

NADIA BUARI

 Date was Sunday, August 4, 2013. Venue was the very prestigious Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane, Mayfair, Central London. Some say this is London most prestigious and most expensive Hotel in London. It used to serve the Queen of England very well in times past and we heard that the late Michael Jackson and many other stars/celebrities have stayed there before.

The event was the Inaugural edition of the African Arts & Fashion Banquet. It was the crowning glory of the 3 days fashion extravaganza known to all as the Africa Fashion Week London, which had clocked 3 this year. It is the 3rd edition of the annual catwalk & exhibition showcase. For 3 days, from August 1st till the 3rd, 2013 at the massive Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, in the Shoreditch area of East London, 100 designers and a large number of exhibitors showcased their talents and exhibited their wares, while many thousands of fashion enthusiasts, guests, buyers, media people etc converged at the venue to feed their eyes and buy or make orders.

On Sunday, August 4, 2013 the grand-finale of the whole past 3 days held at the Dorchester Hotel, grand ballroom. Big kudos to the AFWL team led by the founder Ronke Ademiluyi, a really big one to the AFWL Life patron, Princess Fifi Ejindu, who is also the President & Founder of the African Arts & Fashion Initiative. These 2 great Nigerians and their hardworking team with the support of GLO Communications delivered an A-class showcase worthy of several encores. A big thank you to Otunba Mike Adenuga for helping to make the 4 days a reality. 

Just slightly above 200 great guests from all over Africa and supported by other guests from the UK were gathered at the venue. We saw the likes of High Chief Edem Duke, who has gradually shown that he is an orator par excellence, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, the first lady of Cross-River State, looking gloriously elegant, fine artist of International repute Yinka Shonibare, Senator Grace Bent, Bianca Jagger, the wife of Rock star Mick Jagger, Alexandra Burke, Shingai Shoniwa, Biola Okoya, Nadia Buari, Billie Lee, a top UK architect, Alexander Amosu, June Sarpong, Professor Reverend Julien Ciakudia, who delivered a powerful speech about the re-integration of Africa & Africans, top model and philanthropist Noela Coursaris-Musunka, Adebayo Jones, DG NTDC, Ms. Sally Mbanefo, Kemi Adewunmi just to mention a few.

The AFWL life patron & chairperson of the advisory board, who is also the President/Founder of The African Arts & Fashion Initiative Princess Fifi Ejindu, delivered a powerful speech, where she expounded on the need for Africa & Africans to rise up to the challenges of youth unemployment. She went on further to explain that the banquet is in support of the African Arts and Fashion Initiative, and the purpose of which is to drive an African Arts and style renaissance to motivate, sensitise and most importantly, empower Africa's talented array of upcoming designers and artists. Supporting and promoting African exhibitions globally.

In all it was a glorious night, spiced with excitements of all kind. There were fashion shows by the likes of Adebayo Jones, Thula Sindi, Ella & Gabby, Zizi Cardow, Moofa, Kitoko & Sally Intiego. And truth be told they all did very well.  Apart from the fashion showcase there were a couple of musical performances-Debra Dee did so well, a duo also performed and not forgetting the trio of the CEO Dancers who dazzled all with their very well choreographed moves.

We have for you, some of the images for the night.  Event was supported by GLO.

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PHOTOSPEAK AT THE LAUNCH OF THE FASCINATING NIGERIA PROJECT

OMAWUMI

KING SUNNY ADE

VICE-PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO & CHIEF EDEM DUKE

The Fascinating Nigeria Project which has gotten loads of applauds since it was launched by the Minister for Tourism, Culture & National Orientation is a project that aims to position Nigeria well as one of the tourism capitals of the world. The idea is to be able pass out the right information about our tourism potentials to the whole world.


The initiative was recently launched in Abuja, the FCT & it attracted loads of people. In this report, we have for you the photo speak of the event.

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HIGH CHIEF EDEM DUKE TALKS ABOUT THE FASCINATING NIGERIA PROJECT-

For years, Nigeria as a nation has under-utilized – if not outrightly ignored – her tourism potential by doing little to preserve and promote its rich cultural heritage, alongside all the God-given natural gifts that abound in Africa’s most populous nation. The Fascinating Nigeria initiative aims to check and correct this past negligence with an aim to improve, sustain and amplify the country’s tourism culture. To shed some light on the initiative, Chief Edem Duke, the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Culture and Natural Orientation, graciously granted this quick but thorough interview from the departure lounge of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

 

HIGH CHIEF EDEM DUKE

What is the Fascinating Nigeria project really all about?

Fascinating Nigeria is the new way of communicating the tourism brand that Nigeria is offering to the world. It is an aggregation of all the cultural assets, all the tourism assets and all the definitive elements of our rich, cultural endowment. [It] is an expression of the creativity of every individual Nigerian; it is about the investment climate of Nigeria, which is the most profitable on the continent of Africa. [It] speaks to the very essence of the DNA of every Nigerian; the fact that we are a resilient people, we are very creative, we have dynamic enthusiasm, we are very forward looking, able to survive in all kinds of environments and we always take pride in our Nigerianness.

It is our belief that before now, Nigeria has been seen through a keyhole but in utilizing Fascinating Nigeria as a platform to tell the new and interesting stories of Nigeria, we open a big and wide door into, perhaps, one of the greatest countries on the face of the earth.

It all sounds very interesting but surely, you can understand the skepticism of Nigerians, as several initiatives are launched with no follow through. How is this different and what do we really have to offer from a tourist standpoint – Kenya has the Safari, for example – as business is the main reason foreigners visit Nigeria?

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