A send off, said to have been organized by the management and staff of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), was on Tuesday held for the outgoing Director-General of the parastatal, Mr. Folorunsho Coker, at the parastatal’s Village Hall. Coker will vacate office after March 30th, having completed his eight-year tenure. Mr. Richard Ovie, the parastatal’s Director of Finance, said to be the most senior, will act pending the appointment of a director general by President Bola Tinubu.

Some selected staff paid ‘tributes’ to the outgoing DG for his ‘visionary leadership and numerous achievements’.

Among the ‘achievements’ of Coker in eight years, according to them, include:
• The enactment of the NTDA Act, which transformed the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) into the NTDA.
• The ongoing ISO standardization certification to enhance service quality.
• The successful launch of the Tour Nigeria brand promoting domestic tourism.
• Expansion of the Authority’s organogram to create more employment opportunities.
• The Nigerian Flavours initiative, celebrating the country’s rich culinary heritage.
• Capacity-building programs and training for staff to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Digital transformation and global partnerships with Google, Meta, and Wikipedia that have enhanced Nigeria’s online tourism visibility.
• Industrial peace and improved staff management relations in NTDA
• ⁠Digitalisation of Registration
and Accreditation of all Tourism and Hospitality
The project is 90% near completion. (ongoing).

In his address, the outgoing DG expressed his gratitude to the directors and staff, emphasizing that these ‘achievements’ were a collective effort.

He urged staff to uphold his legacy, maintain professionalism, foster unity, discourage tribalism, and promote love and cooperation among colleagues.

The ceremony concluded with goodwill messages, presentations, and expressions of appreciation for the DG’s dedication and service.