President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) Mr. Nkereuwem Onung has described the federation’s former chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Samuel Alabi as a hero who has done and sacrificed so much to move the Nigerian tourism industry forward.
Onung was reacting to the recent resignation of Chief Samuel Alabi from his position as BoT chairman. He said: “Chief Alabi will always remain my hero in the Nigerian tourism industry. He came into the federation as president at a time when there was so much turmoil in the leadership of the federation. He navigated through the crises and stabilized the ship of FTAN.
“After his tenure as president, he midwifed the election of new leadership for the federation and had over the years been at the forefront of the growth of the industry. He made so much sacrifice and had played the role of a statesman anything there was an issue within the association.
“The federation appreciates him for this tremendous service to the country through the tourism industry.”
It would be recalled, Chief Samuel Alabi had resigned as FTAN BoT chairman last week. In a letter addressed to the FTAN administrative secretary dated Friday, May 10, Alabi had put in his resignation from the BoT. He said in the letter seen by Africa Travel Herald: “I hereby give notice of my resignation from the BoT of our great federation with immediate effect. “
Alabi went forward, in the letter, to suggest ex-FTAN President Alhaji Munzali Dantata to act as the BoT chairman pending the non-elective AGM that would take place later in the year.
Alabi has been active in FTAN in the last 15 years when he was elected FTAN president in 2009 till date.