The former Secretary to Lagos State Government, Mr. Olatunji Bello has been appointed Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), pending confirmation by the Senate.
Upon confirmation, Bello, who was also Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, will replace Mr. Babatunde Irukera. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria was relieved of his appointment in January.
In a statement on Monday, presidential spokesperson, Chief Ajuri Ngelale said the President “expects that the new Chief Executive Officer of this important agency will ensure the holistic realisation of the Commission’s mandate of protecting and promoting the interest and welfare of Nigerian consumers, and ensuring the adoption of measures to guarantee the safety and quality of goods and services”.
Bello is a lawyer, administrator, and renowned journalist.
He holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. He studied Law at the same university and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002.
Bello began his career in journalism at the Concord newspapers in 1985 and was Group Political Editor; Sunday Concord editor and Editor, National Concord.
He is a winner of the US Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship and was appointed the Chairman of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspapers in 2001.
He also served as Commissioner for Environment under various administrations in Lagos State.
No Country in The World Has Developed Without Their Diaspora – Chief Akinboboye
Newly Inducted ITPN Members with the National President
The Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) hosted the second edition of its annual event; the Lagos Tourism Roundtable on Thursday November 23, 2023 with the Theme; Diaspora Tourism: An Untapped Niche in Lagos State.
Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, Chairman of La’Campagne Tropicana and Beach Resort is the guest speaker. The tourism guru in his speech emphasized the need for government to create enabling environment for Diaspora Tourism because that’s the future of tourism.
Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, Chairman of La’Campagne Tropicana and Beach Resort
In his words, “no country in the world has ever developed without the diaspora. This is the reason why I came back and entered the bush at age 27. My aim was to begin the tourism revolution here in Nigeria and spread it across Africa. I thereafter established SET that stands for Security, Entertainment and Tourism and that, I’m sure, will revolutionize tourism in our continent”, he boasted.
ITPN National President, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo (FITPN) and Chief Olawanle Akinboboye with LALOTO Members
In his contribution, National President of Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo (FITPN) said diaspora tourism include those that reside abroad and those who were there but decided to relocate back home. There experience he said, was the needed instrument for the growth of tourism.
ITPN Lagos State’s Chapter Chairman, Dr. Mesewaku (FITPN) with LALOTO President, Mr. Damilare Shoye (MITPN)
Earlier at the event, ITPN Lagos State’s Chapter and main organizing committee Chairman, Dr. Babatunde Olaide-Mesewaku (FITPN) described diaspora tourism as an unarguable “future of tourism along the West Coast of Africa of which Nigeria occupies very strong position”.
LALOTO Champions
The National Vice President (South/West Zone), Otunba Ayo Olumoko (FITPN) commended the effort of the one-year old State chapter at sustaining the Lagos Tourism Roundtable discussion.
Lagos ITPN Team
Among the newly inducted members were the Heads of Tourism Units in all the 57 Lagos State Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas and many others within the tourism ecosystem.
… Lekki LCDA Showcases Tourism Potentials To The World
A 17-year-old Francis James, from Plateau State, has won the second edition of the Mangrove Marathon Race 2023 held on Saturday in Lekki Local Council Development Area, Lagos.
James won one million naira in the 10km eco-friendly race to beat other contestants including a former presidential candidate in the 2023 General Elections and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omowole Sowore.
James who expressed delight in coming out first among the males that took part in the competition said it took him six months to prepare for the race. He urged his fellow contestants to work harder next time if they must win the race.
A staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), David Abiye-Joyce, came first among the females in the competition. She expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for her to win the women category. Nothing She said that she had been winning athletic competitions for the NSCDC.
Earlier in his Welcome address, the Lekki LCDA Chairman. Hon. Rasak Kasali, expressed gratitude to organizers and participants of the Mangrove Marathon Race for identifying with the LCDA.
Kasali said that there was no denying the fact that mangroves were extremely important to the ecosystem. “We are in partnership with Mangrove Marathon because the event is timely and beneficial to our people and the development of our LCDA”.
According to the host Chairman, mangroves serve as a buffer between marine and terrestrial communities and protect shorelines from damaging winds, waves, and floods.
Kasali said mangrove thickets improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments from the land.
He, however, said that in spite of the wide ranging benefits, they were being destroyed. Kasali added that mangroves suffer from land based pollution.
The chairman noted that the benefits of mangroves were fast being eroded. “We as a government have continued to play our part and I call on captains of industries working within the Lekki LCDA to be environmentally responsive.
“I equally extend invitations to tourism enthusiasts to think Lekki LCDA and think investment in tourism. What we are witnessing today is simply ecotourism”, Kasali said.
Mrs. Tolulope Adeyo, Director, Ecology & Conservation, Ministry of Environment & Water Resources, said mangroves were very important to the Lagos State Government.
Adeyo said that Lekki has the longest stretch of mangroves in the state. According to her, mangroves are assets to the community serving as protection for fauna and floral in the ecosystem.
The Director-General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), in his remarks said Nigeria has the largest mangroves in Africa. He noted that Nigeria has one-third of the entire mangrove in Africa and the third most extensive mangrove ecosystems in the world after India and Indonesia.
The Convener of the Mangrove Marathon Race, Mr Jerry Chidi, described the race was a huge success. Chidi said the youth of Lekki LCDA were excited to take part in the race, not just for fun, but to create awareness for the conservation of mangrove.
According to him, the Local Organizing Committee of the Marathon Race plans to make it bigger in the coming years; 21km in 2024 and 42 Km in 2025.
The traditional ruler of Ise Land, Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan (Onise of Ise Land), pledged the support of the palace in the preservation and restoration of mangroves.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of prizes to various categories of contesters, planting of mangroves at the Ecopark Mangrove Sanctuary and Research Centre, Akodo Ise, by the dignitaries and a cultural display by Imale Owoyele from Apakin community in Lekki LCDA.
The Mangrove Marathon Lagos 2023 which held on July 29, was aimed at commemorating the international day for the conservation of the mangrove.
Lekki Deep Seaport in the Lagos Free Zone, Lekki has made history on Friday July 1, 2022 as it received the first cargo vessel at the port.
The “Zhen Hua 28” brought 3 Ship to Shore cranes and 10 Rubber Tyre Gantries for use in the container terminal.
These cranes, touted as the most sophisticated port equipment, will be used for the first time in Nigeria at Lekki Port, putting Nigeria at the forefront of container operations in West Africa.
Today marks the beginning of repositioning Nigeria in the African maritime sector.
Dashmino 