The Nation Newspaper

Category: Travels on Saturday

  • Nigerian tourism industry practitioners mourn Femi-Pearse

    Practitioners in the Nigerian tourism industry have described the death of the founder of Whispering Palms Resort, Iworo, Lagos, Professor Ayodeji Femi-Pearse, as a great loss to the development of tourism in the country. Femi-Pearse, who passed on recently, was among the pioneers in private resort development in the country.

    Recalling his experience with Professor Femi-Pearse, Nigeria’s Father of Tourism, Chief Mike Amachree, said the late founder of Whispering Palms was passionate about the development of tourism in Nigeria.

    He added:  “Back then, when I came back from a trip to Hawaii, the United States of America with ideas on how to develop resorts here in Nigeria, he was already on it. I learnt from him. He had already started his resort before I established Port Harcourt Tourist Beach Resort.

    “Whenever we visited the resort, he would come out to sit, entertain and even give us generous discounts on room rates. He would encourage us on how to move the industry forward. I was surprised that a foremost professor of medicine would be interested in tourism.”

    Speaking on Professor Femi-Pearse, a Nigerian tour operator, Mr. Jemi  Alade, had this to say: “He contributed a lot in terms of resort development. It was a private effort and he did a marvellous job to develop a unique resort for the tourism industry in Nigeria. You know it is a beach front visited by both locals and foreigners and it has been very popular over the years. You know he was a pioneer person in the area of resort development. He was among the first private persons that developed such resorts in Nigeria. He was more or less a pioneer.  The only thing that I am afraid of is continuity. When the owner of the property like that dies, it becomes difficult to carry on. I don’t know if there is a succession plan. There is a need for a good management to handle the place and keep it alive.”

    According to Mr. Ikechi Uko, an international tourism marketing expert and the publisher of ATQ, a travel magazine, Professor Femi-Pearse was a man ahead of his time.

    He said: “At the beginning of his foray into tourism, every month I was in Whispering Palms. He was a visionary ahead of his time. He decided to create something in Nigeria.  His was the first example of a resort in Lagos State, and at that point in Nigeria, there were only three of them:  Rojenny, Chief Amachree’s Port Harcourt Tourist Beach Resort and himself. He was an amazing man.”

    On Femi-Pearse’s vision for setting up the place, Uko said: “The thing was that people needed somewhere they could go for relaxation and he decided to create something for Nigerians in Nigeria. That was the first success story from where other resorts could learn from. He brought whatever experience he had outside Nigeria and used it in Nigeria. He is a good example of people putting their money where their mouth is.”

    Professor Femi-Pearse died on December 28, last year, and was buried on January 24. Apart from being the founder of Whispering Palms Resort, he was a former Provost, University of Lagos College of Medicine and Chief Medical Director, LUTH. In 1980, Professor Femi-Pearse was the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, and between 2000 and 2004, he was the Chairman, Lagos State University (LASU) Governing Council.

  • Southern Sun Ikoyi introduces romantic Valentine day offerings

    Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi has rolled out offerings to give guests and lovers fun-filled valentine season.

    From Thursday, February 14, to Sunday, 17 February, the hotel is offering guests the opportunity to enjoy discounted rates on its rooms inclusive of a refreshing breakfast for two.

    Southern Sun Ikoyi’s Head Chef and his team aim to further raise the bar as plans have been put in place to titillate the taste buds of guests and satisfy their cravings with an exotic valentine seafood buffet dinner and an a la carte menu on request accompanied by the finest of wines for lovers and couples to relish such magical love moment at the hotel.

    Speaking about the special offer for this year’s romantic celebrations, the Sales and Marketing Manager, Ubong Nseobot, stated: “The valentine season is a special occasion dedicated to celebrate love and share the special moments with our families and friends. This year’s offerings are designed to ensure that guests and couples spend valuable time with their partners and loved ones by re-igniting their romance while enjoying an ultimate hospitality experience at the hotel.”

    This year’s valentine celebration at the Southern Sun Ikoyi presents a unique getaway experience for couples and lovers to enjoy a serene environment away from the bustling Lagos traffic, whilst witnessing the synergy of top quality offerings the hotel is renowned for, ranging from its artistic designs, quality service, finest lodging and dining experience in the heart of Ikoyi.

    The hotel offers a well-equipped gym with up to date facilities to meet the needs of lovers and couples who are fitness enthusiasts and is run by a team of dedicated, friendly and extremely warm staff working together in making your overall stay at the hotel a truly memorable one.

    With the special offerings unveiled by the hotel and its consistency in premium service, couples and lovers are guaranteed of a truly magical experience at Southern Sun Ikoyi this Valentine.

  • Why Envoy Hotel invests in hotel security— GM

    The Envoy Hotel, Abuja has built a reputation as one of the most secure hotels in the Federal Capital Territory. This is as a result of security facilities it has put in place in and around the hotel.

    Speaking on this and other issues, the General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Dewald Kruger, said with the hotel’s quality and the profile of guests, the management has put in so much to ensure the safety and total relaxation of guests.

    He said this in a recent interview.

    According to him, the hotel would continue to up the ante in hospitality offerings in Abuja. His words: “This classy hotel with fantastic edifice located in a serene environment close to the diplomatic corridors on the diplomatic drive is hospitality redefined, excellent in security, distinct in style, grand with state of the art facilities, beautiful architectural master piece, a welcoming and courteous staff, best cuisines to carter for local and international guests.

    “The Envoy is the first hotel in Nigeria to use Level 2 Global Lighthouse Certification in Hotel Security. The certification is a multi-layer security concept specifically designed for sophisticated travellers that is independently audited. Besides, there are CCTV cameras fitted in all areas of the hotel with intruder alarm features for the fences.

    “Security is number one in this place. Already we have a plan to maintain standards. The architectural plan is great, but as you operate the property, you see the defects. We will continue with improvements, strict changes. After six months, some things are coming into place. The doors are done, the hinges are oiled, the lawns are clean, strict attention to details, as a part of international business and we cannot stay back. We will keep it up.”

    He said the hotel, since inception has received favourable response in the market despite the huge competition in Abuja. He said: “It has been interesting to be honest. We would have a 50 -50 split from locals to the expatriates or continental guests. In fact, the Nigerian response has been very good. It has been up to 80 per cent as against 20 per cent. We have to even scale our menus to local flavours, but I leant it is swinging a bit over and we are watching all those trends to see where the business is going, but we have a very good response. ”

    Speaking on his experience as hotel manager before taking up the challenge managing Envoy Hotel, he  said: “I have a degree in Hotel Management and a diploma in Hospitality at the Twanege Institute of Technology. I began early in a very reputable, tremendous hotel, a 5-Star Southern Sun property. It was a sister project and tourism was giving its due in good phases at Dortmund. We saw a very good standard. That time, it was like the civil service. In the morning, you wore your suit, in the afternoon, we wore shorts and tuxedo”.

    May be am a little bit of a traditionalist so I worked in those hotels. I also worked in Protea hotels, after that, I ventured into restaurant and did corporate catering contracts where I served bid companies with staff up to four thousand. We had management lounge, directors’s lounge, we entertained directors, managers, ministers, foreign entities, tourists, deputies, so it was catering at a high range, am used to taking care of people. I think I have done with my experience.

    And then even in 2010 World Cup South Africa was doing well. I had a good contract, taking care of media and media houses, as they visited all the stadiums, take care of locker rooms, referee locker rooms, training matches, we cared for them. It was a very interesting time.

  • La Campagne introduces boat cruise

    Poised to cut down on the hours of travelling from the city to Ikegun village, Ibeju Lekki – based La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and offer a new experience on Lagos waters, the management of the resort has introduced a boat cruise for guests visiting the resort.

    This service has been long in coming and as it has become the tradition of the African themed resort, which is noted for its unique offerings, it has come with a bang and style, with added value services to it.

    For guests, this is a welcome development as they no longer have to spend hours and endure the pains of commuting to the resort from their

    different locations within the city.

    The about one-and-a- half-hour boat ride takes off daily from Radisson Blu Hotel jetty, where ample safe and secure car park has been provided for guests using the service.

    It is a pleasurable ride on Lagos waters in a luxury boat that has all the fittings of plush and luxury onboard, with such activities as music, karaoke, comic art and dance as well as storytelling by a well groomed guide.

    For the management of La Campagne, there is no better way to begin a memorable exploit of the numerous offerings of the resort as time is taken in the course of the boat ride to introduce guests to the various offers awaiting them at the resort.

    Safety and security are also top notch onboard as all necessary security precautions are taken to ensure a smooth ride, while guests are treated to the best of the resort’s traditional hospitality and entertainment package.

  • Tifa opens first Lufthansa City Centre in Nigeria

    Tifa Travels has become the first Nigerian travel agency and destination management company (DMO) to open a Lufthansa City Centre (LCC).  This is a franchise partnership with the Lufthansa City Centre International. The new centre was opened last Thursday in Ikeja and promised to offer quality service for which the Lufthansa brand is noted for worldwide.

    Speaking on the centre, the Senior Business Development Manager of Lufthansa City Centre International (LCCI), Pablo Castro, said  having a LCC in Nigeria would enhance the business opportunity and provide the Nigerian travellers with end-to-end  travel solution in more than 90 countries worldwide.

    Speaking on what it means to have a Lufthansa City Centre in Nigeria, he said: “LCC is a franchising organization for travel agencies that need a global network. When an agency wants to have global coverage, they need to approach one of the organizations worldwide.”

    On the criteria for a travel agency to have an LCC, Castro said: “They must be IATA licensed, that is a priority and they must provide travel agency service, and this has to be approved by Lufthansa.”

    Also speaking on the LCC, the Managing Director of Tifa Travel Agency, Mrs. Adewale Adelola,   said : “IIt is a global expansion of what we have always been doing. It gives you a global reach with other travel agencies. It is like a global expansion and gives you  some form of partnership with Lufthansa itself.

    “Of course, the Lufthansa brand stands for sincerity and honesty which is what we also stand for. It is a business expansion, a franchise and a global affiliation to a bigger body.”

    Asked why she decided to go into the business arrangement with LCCI, she said even though the centre was new in Nigeria, it was a familiar territory.

    She continued: “It is still a familiar territory, but with a bigger branding. So, the expectation is that we must deliver on the same level of service that Lufthansa delivers. Lufthansa is known for their exceptional service delivery, so we have to deliver on the same level.

    Mrs. Adelola said her company intends to open two new more centres

    in Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    Among those present at the occasion were Lufthansa Regional General Manager.

  • Ethiopian Airlines wins Africa Outstanding Airline of the Year

    Africa Project Against Suicide in conjunction with the South West Nigeria Excellence Awards recently honoured Ethiopian Airlines (ET) with the Africa Outstanding Airline of the year.  The event was held recently at the Conference Centre of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    Mrs. Firihiewot Mekonnen, while receiving the award on behalf of the Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, GabrielMariam Tewolde, thanked the organisers for the award.

    She said: “Ethiopian Airlines will always support great ideas that will uplift the standard of living for Africans. As this programme will also be launched in different African countries, including Ethiopia, I am proposing that you take ET as the official carrier whenever you fly.

    “ET is a pan-African carrier that supports any project which aims for the betterment of Africa. Ethiopian Airlines is the biggest Airline in Africa and has been recognised as the African four-star airline. It is a member of the Global Star Alliance and flies the newest aircraft brands in Africa, including the B787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350”.

    The conference came as a United States-based organisation, Leadership in Obscurity Network, had officially entered into partnership with the African Project Against Suicide (APAS) in a one-year-long crusades being undertaken by the latter.

    The Overall Coordinator of APAS, Pastor Honey Olawale, South Africa Coordinator, Reholegile Mehlape, and Eastern Africa Coordinator, Daniel Madalanga, jointly stated that the terms of the partnership include training of selected African leaders on suicide prevention.

    According to him, 10 countries within Africa are participating in the first phase of anti-suicide project. The countries are South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Gambia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Mauritius. As for Nigeria, however, cities listed for the war-against-suicide crusades and concerts are Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Benin, Abuja, Kaduna and Enugu.

    He said that Ethiopian Airlines was the official airline for the conference as members from all over Africa travelled to Nigeria with the airline.

  • Turkish Airlines achieves 80.2 % load factor in December

    Turkish Airlines has recently announced its passenger and cargo traffic results for December 2018, reaching 80.2% load factor in that month. Growth in the number of passengers, revenue per kilometre and load factor is an important indicator of the continued growing interest in Turkey and Turkish Airlines at the end of the year as well.

    According to the December 2018 traffic results: Total number of passengers carried went up by one per cent reaching 5.5 million passengers, and the load factor went up to 80.2 per cent.

    In December 2018, total load factor improved by 0,5 points, while international load factor increased by 0,5 points to 80 per cent, domestic load factor reached to 84 per cent.

    International-to-international transfer passengers (transit passengers) went up by three per cent approximately, while the number of international passengers -excluding international-to-international transfer passengers (transit passengers)- went up by eight per cent.

    In December 2018, cargo/mail volume continued the double digit growth trend and increased by 20 per cent, compared to the same period of 2017. Main contributors to this growth in cargo/mail volume are N. America with 33 per cent, Africa with 33 per cent, Far East with 17 per cent, and Europe with 17 per cent increase.

  • Multiple taxation is hotels’ major problem, says Sun Heaven’s boss

    Mr. Zulu Ibrahim is the Group General Manager of Sun Heaven Hotels and Resorts, one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality chains. The group is currently planting hotels all over the country and pushing into the West African sub-region. In this interview with OKORIE UGURU, he talks about the challenges of building a local hospitality chain. Excerpts:

    Could you talk about the Sun Heaven Hotels and Resorts chain?

    Sun Heavens Hotel started in 2015 with a 25-room hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. After a few months, we thought we could go into a chain because we found out that we had experience in the industry and we could do what others were doing outside the shores of Nigeria. So, we went into Lekki Phase1, and by February 2016, we had our second property which is on Admiralty Road, Lekki Phase1. After then, in October 2016, we opened another property in Asokoro, Abuja, also 25-room upscale hotel. That was before we had this one in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.   It is a 72-room property. It is our flagship hotel for now.

    The reason and our own concept is that we want to extend Sun Heaven Hotels and its services throughout Nigeria and beyond. We want people to enjoy here at Sun Heaven hotels what they go outside the country to enjoy.   We want them to enjoy the kind of hospitality and services that make people travel outside the country to go and have their holidays. If you go to most of these countries, there is no where you will not find Nigerians. We are well-trained and if we can deliver such services to people outside the country, we could equally do the same here. Also, the mindset of the average Nigerian investor in the hospitality industry is that Nigerian managers are not good and hotels locally managed are not good enough. That is why we are building Sun Heaven Hotels as a local hospitality chain to counter this mindset.

    Right now, we are opening another branch in the Gudu area of Abuja in March, and by June, we will be opening our fifth or sixth hotel in Lagos here which will be on Ikorodu Road. After the one in Abuja, within a short interval, we plan opening another one in Umuahia, a 52-room hotel.

    Is Sun Heavens Hotel a hospitality management company or you own your properties?

    We are the owners. Sun Heaven Hotels and Resort is not only a hospitality management company, we also own property.

    You are building a hospitality chain. Is it going to be purely a Nigerian hospitality chain or maybe after having your footprints in Nigeria, you are moving to another region?

    Yes, sometimes last year in 2018, we had gone to Ghana to do a feasibility study. Even right now, we are planning to move into West Africa. After that, we may go beyond the sub-region. Right now, our scope is Nigeria and West Africa.

    So, you intend building a regional hotel chain?

    Yes, we do.

    How do you see the Nigerian hospitality industry and the void you believe Sun Heaven will fill?

    According to statistics, about 7,000 visitors come into Lagos every day, and if you check all the good hotels around, I don’t think we have 7,000 rooms, I mean of very good hotels. So, having four or five more hotels in Lagos,  I believe the hospitality industry, which is the second oldest business in the world, can never run at loss. Because, like I said, if 7000 people are coming into Lagos, where are they sleeping? Conferences are going on; meetings are going; acquisitions and mergers are going on, where are they taking place? So, we have to provide the enabling environment for people to come and expand their businesses in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. So, that was what we thought of. Most people would not want to come and expand their business into Nigeria and West Africa because there is no good hospitality platform for them. That is why we want to fill this void and make sure that we are everywhere in Nigeria. For example, someone coming for a business in Lagos or who wants to go to Abuja would want to use our hotel, if the person is satisfied with our services. So, we have a chain and we will soon have a loyalty card that entitles our loyal customers to discounts across our chain. So, that is what we are trying to do.

    You footprints in terms of planting hotels read Victoria Island, Lekki Phase1, Park View Estate, all in Lagos and Abuja, creating a profile upscale hospitality outfit. Is that true?

    Yes, that is what we are looking at but the next one we are opening in Lagos is in Onipanu, Ikorodu Road. There is nowhere that you will establish a hotel that it is not marketable.  We bought a property over there. Onipanu is just in front of Ilupeju and Ilupeju has a lot of businesses and if you look at, let’s say, from Surulere down to Maryland, there are no good hotels until you get to Ikeja. So, each location has its own peculiar way of selling itself. Even if it is sited inside the market, if your services are good, you will still get patronage. What we are doing is that we will not say because this one is along Ikorodu Road, it will not be as good as the one in Ikoyi. No.

    From the locations of your property; you are a business hotel?

    Yes.

    Some are of the opinion that Nigerians are not good at running hospitality outfit; what do you think?

    That depends on the individual mindset towards the business. I have worked under expatriates for 18 years.  I know how it is being done. There is not business that can survive without proper management. Money is not the issue. Like I said, we want to make our presence known in Nigeria and West Africa. So, if our eyes are on money, we are not going to get to anywhere. From the account department to the general manager,  we don’t focus on money. There are different levels of control.

    What is the general percentage occupancy across your property?

    I will want to break them down because different locations have different markets.  Throughout last year, Lekki Phase1 has the highest, which is 85 per cent. As I am talking to you now, there is no room. It is followed by the Victoria Island property, our first hotel. Victoria Island has 75 per cent occupancy. The Asokoro property has 62 per cent occupancy. Ikoyi just opened about seven months ago. It ended last year with 60 percent occupancy. So, from 2015 till now, we have recorded any month with the occupancy rate below 50 per cent, irrespective of what is happening.

    How do you find managing hotels with the Nigerian business climate?

    It is a little bit of a challenge. We have hotels in many places. The taxes in Lagos are higher than any other place in Nigeria.   For example, in Abuja, we are not paying five per cent consumption tax. Nobody is asking for it. Though the hoteliers’ association in Lagos is in court, but we are paying. The major challenge we have is power. Let me use this place as an example. We  spend close to six million Naira on power every month because we buy diesel.  Public power supply is about N900,000 to one million naira without constant light. So, it is a little bit of challenge. Taxes are too high but we will have to make sure we improve on our occupancy. Our rates are moderate. We want to encourage people to   patronize us. We are still in the gestation period in the hotel chain. Forget about the fact that we started in 2015.  So, we make sure that we have balance. We do not owe any government tax and we do not owe staff.

    Within a period of four to five years of establishment, you have about six to seven hotels scattered in different parts of the country. Where do you see the hotel chain to be in the next 10 years?

    The vision of the hotel is to become the best hotel chain in Nigeria and the sub-region. So, going by that, in the next 10 years, we should be all over Nigeria and West Africa and by extension Africa.

  • NCAC DG applauds activities in culture, tourism

    Director-General (DG) National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has expressed immense joy with culture and tourism activities in Nigeria last year, promising to embark on culture evangelism tour of the 36 states of the federation very soon.

    The NCAC DG singled out Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, Kaduna, Plateau and Edo states for engaging and promoting robust culture and tourism activities in 2018 which helped create a window for organized local and international visits across Nigeria.

    Runsewe, whose office organized some of the most notable cultural festivals in Nigeria last year such as National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) and International Arts and Crafts Exposition (INAC), noted that the upbeat in cultural activities from all states in the country would help to sustain an all year and season holiday culture in Nigeria and  anchors certified cultural festivals as tourism products to help local and international tour operators in marketing Nigeria to the world.

    According to Nigeria’s chief cultural officer and President, World Crafts Council, Africa region, what took place around the country last year is a revolution which would place Nigeria in its rightful place in global tourism community.

    The NCAC DG noted that the 50 billion naira spending by holiday makers in Lagos is a huge eye opener to what can trickle down  to operators of businesses and the service industry, adding that what is needed now is to see that the industry is well organized and turned up to create jobs for Nigerians. He said Lagos State government is doing well in tourism and prays that the state will continue to provide the leadership in strategic tourism activities more than ever before.

    To Cross River, Runsewe commended the governor for making carnival Calabar to take new shape last year through an authentic African theme which calls for top mind awareness and revival of African culture to help open the continent to visits and collaboration. Indeed, the 26 foreign nations that visited and actually participated in the Calabar carnival, Runsewe observed, has taken the cultural carnival to another level.

    As Nigeria’s chief marketing officer, Runsewe explained that the cultural intervention in Rivers State during NAFEST, presented Nigeria culture to the world in an uncommon way and adding that he would remain grateful to Governor Nyeson Wike of River State.

    The Durbar in Kaduna and the refocused attention to rewrite and reposition tourism in Plateau by Governor El-Rufai and Simon Lalong respectively added up to give Nigeria the desired rebound that the world is expecting from Africa’s biggest black nation, Runsewe noted.

  • Igbere holds new year cultural carnival

    Igbere community in Abia State rolled out the drum to usher in the New Year with its 2019  Igbere  carnival held at the Neya  Camp Carnival Village. The focus of this year’s event was harnessing the revenue potential in culture. The carnival, which was witnessed by indigenes and visitors, had Igbere indigenes across age groups trooped out to participate in the carnival.

    Over 20 traditional dances, including the Umuhu Ezechi War Dance, Nkwa Umuagbogh from Afikpo, Ebonyi State and several others from Igbere clan were at hand to entertain people.

    In his speech,   former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, whose foundation, the Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation (OUKF), organized the cultural carnival, in his message titled Cultural Heritage:Vehicle for sustainable development, said culture should be seen as an alternative source of revenue generation. He mentioned Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and some others in Europe as countries that have used culture as an alternative source of revenue and said Igbere carnival was aiming to replicate that.

    Kalu said that by hosting the carnival, his foundation has heeded the clarion call of President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians must find a way to bring foreigners back to the country to enhance investment and widen the revenue base of the nation.

    “Igbere cultural carnival is a sort of tourism which could be turned into one of the revenue earners in this country, just as what obtains in South Africa”.

    The former governor, while urging the Federal Government to support  Igbere carnival by giving them requisite institutional support to boast tourism and increase the nation’s revenue base, promised to build a 5-star hotel in the area to boast Igbere carnival. He equally called on well to do sons and daughters of Igbere to do the same to increase the revenue base of the community.

    Kalu singled out the governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for commendation, saying that despite the fact he was not formally invited, he sent his deputy, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, to represent him at the event and wished him well in his endeavours.

    Secretary of the OUKF,  Mrs Jemimah Kalu, said the 2019 edition of the cultural fiesta brought stakeholders in the tourism, hospitality, entertainment and the international community under one roof to appreciate and celebrate the cultural diversity of Nigeria.

    She thanked kalu for giving the foundation the necessary support to organize the event.

    Some of those who attended the carnival described it as a commendable cultural enterprise that is yet to be equalled in the whole of the South East and urged Kalu to keep the flag flying.

    Some of the dignitaries who attended this year’s Igbere carnival included the governor of Enugu State, Chief Ugwuanyi, represented by his deputy, Mrs. Ezeilo;  Lt. Col. M.I Ibrahim who represented the Brigade commander, 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia and Mrs. D.C Akputa, a deputy commissioner of police who represented Abia State police  commissioner.

    Others were the mother of Kalu, Chief Eunice Uzor Kalu; Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Onuoha Ogwe; All Progressives Congress (APC) Abia governorship candidate, Uche Ogah; his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) counterpart, Dr. Alex Otti; and Mrs. Nkeiru Onyejiocha, member ,representing the Umunneochi/Isuikwuato Federal Constituency.

    At the end, cash prizes were given to outstanding dance troupes. The first position went to the dance troupe from Eziama and they received N500, 000 which was presented to them by Dr. Otti. The second and third positions went to Amakpo and Ibinanta dance troupes and they went home with cash prizes of N350, 000 and N250, 000 respectively.