Father of Nigerian Tourism Chief Mike Amachree has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for throwing his weight behind the Ipada Initiative and Carnival. According to Amachree, by openly identifying with the festival as Patron and Chief Global Ambassador, President Tinubu has shown the seriousness of his government to support the tourism industry in Nigeria and help it to grow.

The Ipada Initiative is a private sector driven project that aims to attract a large number of international tourists from the Diaspora and other parts of the world to Nigeria and other African countries. He is also commended the president for accepting to be the patron and Chief Global Ambassador of the event set to hold in December.

Amachree said: “I wish to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for throwing his weight behind this laudable tourism programme by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye. By authorizing a personally signed letter, it is a major boost for tourism industry in the country now. 

“President Tinubu, with this action, and also by his creation of the tourism ministry, has shown the seriousness of his administration to reposition the industry.”

Amachree, one of the pioneer travel industry practitioner and former President of the Association of Tourism practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), is the proprietor of Brooklyn Group of Hotels and the founder of the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach Resort.  He said he has followed the trajectory of Otunba Wanle Akinboboye in the industry, most especially his passion and commitment to the growth of the sector in Nigeria.

Amachree said: “Otunba Wanle Akinboboye has been very active and consistent in the tourism industry in Nigeria. He has supported the growth of the sector for so many years.

“I remember some years back when he and other dignitaries used to fly down from Lagos to Port Harcourt to support my tourism programmes, including the launching of the Brooklyn Museum and Port Harcourt Zoological Garden, where he would make meaningful contributions. I think his current Ipada Initiative is laudable and will definitely help to boost international tourist reception in Nigeria.”