Renowned cultural tourism advocate and former Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, is set to host a grand valedictory celebration in honour of Mr. Nkereweum Onung, the outgoing President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN).
The event is scheduled to hold during the FTAN Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place from July 28 to 31, 2025, in Abuja. It will mark the end of Onung’s two-term tenure as FTAN President, which is widely acknowledged as a period of transformation and renewed engagement for Nigeria’s tourism sector.
Otunba Runsewe has inaugurated a planning committee for the event, appointing Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, former President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), as Chairperson. She will be supported by notable cultural tourism journalist, Mr. Frank Meke, CEO of Creative Naija, among others.
Praising Onung’s leadership, Runsewe described him as a resilient and visionary figure who navigated the complexities of Nigeria’s diverse tourism ecosystem with admirable poise. “Nkereweum Onung deserves our appreciation and honour,” Runsewe said. “Keeping FTAN united and impactful through challenging times is no small feat.”
Under Onung’s tenure, FTAN strengthened stakeholder collaboration and significantly boosted Nigeria’s presence on the global tourism map, notably through participation at the World Travel Market in London. His leadership also coincided with the brief creation of a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism—an institutional shift reflecting the federal government’s renewed focus on tourism and cultural development.
Beyond his FTAN role, Onung serves as the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Culture and Tourism. He also chairs the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and is a BOT member of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN).
Mrs. Akporiaye, in her acceptance remarks, pledged to deliver a befitting celebration in Onung’s honour and expressed gratitude to Runsewe for his consistent support of the private tourism sector. She also doubles as the Chairperson of the FTAN 2025 AGM Planning Committee.
As the industry prepares for new leadership, the planned celebration is expected to be a night of praise, unity, and recognition for a man many believe has elevated the stature of Nigeria’s tourism community both at home and abroad.