By Dipo Olowookere
All is getting set for the 3rd edition of the prestigious and glamorous Nigeria Travel Awards organised by Jumia Travel.
The event, which is scheduled to hold at Four Points by Sheraton on Monday, March 11, 2019, has three broad objectives: to promote Nigeria’s tourism sector, encourage hoteliers to improve the quality of their services for further advancement of their respective destinations, and recognise outstanding players in the Nigeria hospitality/travel industry.
Information made available to us on Tuesday revealed that the keynote speaker for the ceremony, Mr Steve Ayorinde, who is the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture in Lagos State, has confirmed to grace the occasion.
The journalist turned politician will at the programme speak on the theme, Lagos as a Model for Tourism Growth in Nigeria.
Managing Director of Jumia Travel, the hotel & flight arm of Jumia, Ms Omolara Adagunodo, commented that, “We are excited to have the Honourable Commissioner as our Keynote Speaker for this year’s Awards. Ayorinde’s versatile and demonstrated experience in the tourism sector will definitely be useful.”
Ms Adagunodo also noted that Mr Ayorinde has made significant contributions to the growth and development of tourism/hospitality in Lagos state. This has made local and international tourists to always add the state to their bucket list. This is one of the many reasons why the state made over N50 billion cash transactions during last year’s yuletide.
It will be recalled that the current Director-General of National Tourism Development Agency (NTDC), Mr Folorunsho Coker, was the keynote speaker at the 2nd edition of the Nigeria Travel Awards which held in Lagos.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
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