The Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA) otherwise called members, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Rivers State chapter has elected new leaders to pilot its affairs.
The election which took place at Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt last week Thursday, had Eugene Nwanzi and Chief Ezekwe emerging chairman and vice chairman respectively. They were shortly inaugurated by the Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with PHCCIMA.
Others on the list are Felix O. Felix (secretary), Napoleon Koko (Assistant secretary), Sandra Enojo (Public Relations officer), the position of Treasurer went to Monima Briggs, while Nelson Henry and John Kpai made ex-officio members. The elected officers were charged to be hardworking and shun corruption.
This charge was given by the South-South Zone Vice President of the association, Mr. Rex Yakpogoro who in the inaugural session pointed out that Hotelier play important roles in Tourism.
Yakpogoro in his keynote address asked the government to have listening ears and try cooperate with NHA, to enable them function optimally. He also asked them to deliver world class service in the industry.
He asked proprietors of the industry to try to fulfill their responsibilities instead of waiting to be pushed by government agents.
Yakpogoro assured that the association will tackle menu planning, staff development, budgeting, environmental challenges and financial constraints.
The VP who identified tourism as one of the fastest growing industry in the world today which accounts for 10% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and nearly 8% of the employment in developing countries, opined that in Nigeria Tourism should employ at least 20% of our population if the development of this sector is allowed to be on the front burner of the national planning. ###
Mene Gbarabe
