Publisher's Tale

“Na we be travel writers” the $billion dollar people.

We are now officially an in-flight journal for the Award winning Nigerian Eagle Airline and the Nigerian international Airport system expanding our audience. Expect a lot of destination stories in our editions

My very “Naija” (Nigerian) headline says that we are travel writers. The $billion dollars aspect is the amount we generate every year together with Aviation Writers for hotels, airlines and destinations. Most Travelers do not know why they travel. We tell them where to go to every year and they dutifully obey us. If we ignore a place the destination loses value. Our rewards have been a lifestyle of millionaires without actually being one. We stay in the best hotels, fly business class and get invited to the best parties in town. We live a life that even superstars and celebrities dream of. We are always someone’s guest, being pampered and taken care of at any place we visit. The price we pay is missed families, airport stress, and sciatica (from seating too long on uncomfortable airport seats) .Who are we?

We are Travel writers!. Have you heard of Richard Quest and Samantha Brown? Some of us have covered more kilometers than those stars on CNN and Travel Channel. We have been everywhere in Africa and the World. Between Shimite Katung, Yvonne Bassey, Tunji Oketunbi, Lucky George and my humble self, we have seen the best of the World. But we know so many lonely nights, so many dangerous encounters, and diverse temptations, sleepless nights due to Jetlag or some strange spices eaten in uncountable restaurants. We survive all that and hold unto our memories to enable us tell the story in a way that make others want to visit there (wherever it may be).With some Aviation Reporters we have created a viable Travel business in Nigeria.

How we got here? A certain great man late Matts Ebaboje DA Silva called together some journalist in the early 90’s to form FIJET Nigeria. I had just finished editing “Tourist Fact finder of Nigeria” and had joined the Disney styled “HAPPYWORLD HAPPYLAND” as editor of their Travel Guide. After leaving post graduate school, I have pursued my passion for travelling and telling the stories We are now officially an in-flight journal for the Award winning Nigerian Eagle Airline and the Nigerian international Airport system expanding our audience. Expect a lot of destination stories in our editions “Na we be travel writers” the $billion dollar people. thereafter. I joined FIJET at its second meeting in Mr. Dasilva’s office in Durbar Hotel Lagos. At my first meeting I watched an argument between Mr.Tijani of Daily Times and Tope Ogbeni Awe of the Vanguard on who started the first Travel page in Nigeria. Both were so persuasive that we all got confused on who was right. After the meeting I introduced myself to both Tijani and Ogbeni.Tijani immediately accused me of publishing falsehood. He said that he bought the Fact finder and travelled to a lake we said existed in Kwara State(I think it is Obbo Aiyegunle)but found out the lake did not exist. I was embarrassed but smiled inwardly because my work was used as his guide book.Tijani was good with Travelogues and travelled every week to a new destination while Ogbeni was the guru of news reports. We followed Ogbeni’s page to know what was happening with NANTA and the industry. I concentrated on my guide books travelling round Nigeria to watch Festivals and write about shrines every Saturday for The Guardian’s Travel and Leisure page anchored by Felix Abugu (currently the editor of that paper).My second press interview was done by an entertainment writer with the Punch newspapers Nse Obong Okon Ekong (currently the deputy editor of This Day’s Glitterati).

Over the years most of the initial members of the now named ANJET moved on to other beats leaving behind a core group of fast evolving specialists. Vanguard under Ogbeni and later Frank Meke was the leading voice but that changed with the arrival of the likes of Ifeanyi Uhuegbu (now based in UK) of Champion.Yemi Obalenlege (now UK based) and the late Adebayo pioneered Thisday’s entry into Travel reporting. A rebel group led by Wale Ojo Lanre of the Tribune, George Lucky and Demola (now based in America) of the Sketch broke into the ranks.Just before them Goddy Ofulue of Punch and Andrew Okungbowa of the Guardian have joined us along with Doyin Adelaja. By the time of death of the greatest promoter of all times Mr. Da Silva 2years ago, the trade that he created has flourished so much that every paper has a travel page. Channel TV started with Tonia Uju-Ekeye as the Travel News Anchor and later Rosemary Omoshie bringing travel as weekly television staple for viewers. Yvonne Bassey rewrote Travel on Television with her passion and scripting skills after taking over from the brief moments of Jacqueline Oboh and Vivian Akinyosoye.Channels success as a travel medium can only be matched by Shimite’s African Pot on NTA.Roseline Adinoyi of AIT took over from Paul Mefor (now based in Ireland) but the Channel never established a strong tradition. Today the likes of Jimoh Babatunde,late Winnie Mbata,Victor Nze, Okorie Uguru, Franklin Ihejirika,Obinna Emelike,Emeka Umejei,Emeka Anokwuru,Angela Okisor,Justina Okpanku,Ini Thompson and Adachi are running with the vision of a virile travel press adding value to destinations. Only few players like the current DG of NTDC Otunba Runsewe have harnessed the inherent power of the crew. I have dedicated this edition to them as all stories in this edition were lifted from their pages.

TOP 100 HOTELS WEST AFRICA

Finally we publish our compilation of the best hotels in West Africa. We tried to include as many countries as possible despite the fact that many of the hotels did not measure up to our initial criteria. This is a completely subjective job done from mostly first hand study but some internet assistance were included for some countries that have recent disturbances eliminating them from our search team visits. I personally have visited the top 30 hotels in West Africa.

PUBLISHED BY TRAVELLERS WEEKEND LTD
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