It was a night of colour, culture and continental pride as Frank Meke emerged the centre of attention, clinching the Outstanding Tourism Media Personality of the Year award at the prestigious Afrique Travel Industry Conference and Awards held in Lagos last weekend.
The event, marked by vibrant music and rich African cultural displays, brought together key players in the tourism and hospitality industry to celebrate excellence and chart a new course for Africa’s travel ecosystem.
Meke, a veteran journalist and founder of Cre8tive 9JA Radio, was honoured for his over three decades of consistent advocacy and storytelling that have projected Africa’s tourism potential to the global stage.
Organisers of the event described ATICA as a premier pan African platform dedicated to fostering partnerships, recognising excellence and shaping the future of travel and tourism across the continent.
Founded by Emmanuel Ossai, the initiative seeks to connect Africa with the global tourism market while promoting inter African collaboration as a driver of growth and development.
Themed “Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potentials through Collaboration,” the conference underscored the urgent need for synergy among stakeholders to fully harness the continent’s vast tourism resources.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the ATICA Board of Trustees, Chinyere Umeasiegbu, said the platform represents a convergence of vision, purpose and responsibility for the future of Africa’s tourism industry.
She noted that while Africa is richly endowed with culture, heritage and natural attractions, unlocking these potentials requires deliberate partnerships and collective action across borders.
Delivering a keynote address, Susan Akporaiye, Managing Director of Topaz Travels and Tours Limited, stressed the importance of strategic collaboration and policy direction in repositioning Africa’s tourism sector.
A former president of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, she advocated for a unified African identity in global engagements and called for visa liberalisation across the continent to ease travel and boost intra African tourism.
Akporaiye also highlighted the need for robust infrastructure development spanning rail, road and maritime networks, alongside the full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market to improve connectivity.
She maintained that Africa’s diversity, often viewed as a limitation, should instead be embraced as a strength capable of driving economic expansion through tourism.
Also speaking, Charmaine Matheus of the Namibia Tourism Board presented Namibia as a top destination, showcasing its unique landscapes and rich cultural experiences.
She pointed to attractions such as Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei and the Fish River Canyon, describing the country as a shining example of Africa’s tourism promise.
Matheus further highlighted the Namib Desert, noting its global recognition as one of the oldest deserts where the Atlantic Ocean meets expansive arid landscapes.
Among other dignitaries honoured at the event was Walde Ndevashiya, reinforcing the growing diplomatic and tourism ties across the continent.
The 2026 edition of ATICA attracted strong institutional backing, including support from the Namibia High Commission to Nigeria and key private sector players driving innovation within the travel industry.
With his latest recognition, Meke’s enduring impact on tourism journalism once again came to the fore, underscoring the critical role of media in shaping narratives, promoting destinations and advancing Africa’s position in the global tourism marketplace.