History was made at the Abuja premises of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) last Saturday, when past students of the institute converged to hold a national convention and election, to form a new exco for the Institute’s Alumni body.
The convention started at about 11am having used the first 2 hours for registration and business familiarisation by delegates, who were from the Institute’s different campuses across the country.
The opening prayer was said by Comrade Florence Oyelade Adedayo-Tayo (Lady FOAT). While the National anthem and self introduction of delegates followed afterwards. The Welcome address was delivered by the National Caretaker Commitee Chairman, Comrade Jonathan Justin Akem, who along with his committee members have been in charge of the administration of the Institute’s Alumni body in the last couple of months.
His address captured the progress the Alumni Association has made so far, while awaiting the present and the future.
The Convention lecture of the day, titled: Nihotour Institutional Sustainability, The Role of Alumni; was delivered By Dr. Simon Moses Saidu, an alumnus of the Institute, and received a roaring standing ovation by all.
The new constitution was presented for final general adoption and signing by each campus’ representatives, but after divergent views were raised, it was unanimously agreed that two more weeks should be given, to allow for more in-puts. The final adoption date was slated for August 10th, 2024. Strategies for raising more funds for the association, aside membership contribution was also raised.
Ms. Favour Ekwo was unanimously proposed and accepted as a Matron of the Institute’s Alumni Association, with much rejoicing.
The election followed afterwards and turned out to be one of the freest and fairest polls ever conducted in the country. The poll was credibly conducted through voting by accredited delegates and the counting of votes was done by the two observers, a representative of the Institute, Mr. Elijah Sheleph Dabak and Ms Favour Ekwo. The Chairman of the electoral committee, Comrade Paul Ukpabio in agreement with his committee member, Comrade Sarki Hillary Layarank, announced and declared Comrade Jonathan Justin Akem as the winner of the election, having won the majority of votes casted.
In his acceptance speech, Comrade Jonathan Justin Akem, the President Elect, thanked everyone, especially Comrade Hakeem Salami, for his true sportsmanship spirit and the giant strides of everyone that had made the convention and election a huge success. He declared that in the just concluded election, there is no looser but all are winners.
“I hereby invite well meaning minds, to come on board and work the next milestone of gargantuan success with me. We are done politicking, now, it is time for truthful governance to deliver the association promises and dividends,” he said.
After further deliberations, the few vacant positions, were filled with competent, caretaker committee Chairmen and committee members.
The Newly Elected National Executives as published by the electoral committee are:
National Patron(Appointed) Lady Idy Favour Ekwo,
National President Jonathan Justin Akem (From North)
National Deputy President Okpoko Daniel Obiora ( From South)
National Vice president Hakeem Salami (From South)
National Secretary Gen Rasaq Dada (From South)
National Treasurer Haj Umma El rufai (From North)
Nat Asst Secretary Isiaka Abdul Rasheed (From North)
National Organising Sec. Florence Oyelade Adedayo-Tayo (Lady FOAT)(From North)
National PRO Paul Ukpabio (From South)
National welfare Officer Afoke Nas (From South)
National Advisory council (From North) Sarki Hilary Layarank, Olajide Omoniyi Joseph, Christiana Mark Usiani, Aniede Udofia
National Advisory council (From South), Wilfred Stanley, Favored Ani, Uyi Morgan, Idahosa Marian, Akinade Ajibola.
A motion was moved to declare the Convention and election evening as Hospitality night of fun for delegates, by Comrade Okpoko Daniel the new Deputy President, a delegate from Enugu Campus.
The Hospitality night event, later took place same evening, at the famous Woi & Koi Chinese restaurant in Wuse 2 area of Abuja. Here, the new exco, wined and dined, with the Institute’s new Matron in attendance. It was an opportunity to rub minds in a relaxed atmosphere of refined dinning with sumptuous three course meal, which consisted of chicken corn soup, pepper sauce with spring rolls and a palatable main course of Chinese fried rice with seafoods, fish sauce and desserts. The excellent dinner, was supported with exotic cocktails, red wines, and other drinks.
