Nigeria’s foremost culture advocate, Otunba Segun Runsewe, has been honoured with the title of “Pillar of Nigerian Tourism and Culture”, in recognition of his decades-long impact on the nation’s creative and tourism sectors.
The award, conferred by the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), was presented during a colourful ceremony at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers on Thursday, October 23.
Runsewe, a former Director-General of both the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), was celebrated alongside other industry icons who have shaped Nigeria’s tourism narrative.
Other awardees included Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, former Minister of Culture and Tourism; Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, recognised as Foremost National Tourism Builder and Creative Mind; Mr. Jemi Alade, National Trailblazer in Inbound Tour Operation; Engr. Tarzan Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun, National Icon in Tourist Boat Operations and Water Transportation; Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, Icon of Consistency and Resilience in National Tourism Leadership; and Chief Abimbola Bode-Thomas, Hospitality and Tourism Management Amazon.
Speaking at the event, ANJET President, Mr. Okorie Uguru, said the awards honoured those who built the foundations of Nigeria’s tourism sector.
“It is not about those in office today,” Uguru noted. “We are recognising those whose past efforts made tourism visible and viable — to inspire current leaders to do more.”
In his acceptance speech, Runsewe thanked ANJET for the recognition but lamented Nigeria’s continued “talk without action” approach to tourism.
“I stopped talking for some time because there are too many talks in tourism, no action,” he said. “After agriculture, tourism is the biggest employer of labour, yet we are still telling ourselves stories.”
Runsewe cited the late Prophet T.B. Joshua as an example of Nigeria’s neglected religious tourism potential.
“When T.B. Joshua held conferences, over 20 private jets would be parked at the airport. That was religious tourism in action — but nobody keyed into it,” he said.
He praised Ambassador Ogbuewu for his diplomatic contributions during the Obasanjo administration and urged stakeholders to act decisively to make tourism a major economic driver.
“Let us thank God we are being recognised in our lifetime,” Runsewe added.
The event drew industry leaders from both public and private sectors, united in their call to transform Nigeria’s tourism industry from endless rhetoric to real results.
Reporting by Chioma Ezike