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Tag: Mrs Sally Mbanefo

  • Ooni showers blessings on Mbanefo

    Ooni showers blessings on Mbanefo

    •NTDC signs MoU with Nigeria-Turkey Chamber of Commerce

    Call it reverence or respect for tradition and culture. You are right. This year’s Oodua Festival held at Ile-Ife in Osun State, provided ample opportunities for many to celebrate the rich Yoruba heritage. One of such Nigerians is the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, who explored the festival to promote domestic tourism, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

    For two days, the Ife Palace Square, Ile- Ife, Osun State was a beehive of cultural activities featuring dancing, singing and drumming among others. In attendance were traditional rulers such as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olususe 11, representative of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, Otunba Gani Adams, culture enthusiasts, delegates from different Yoruba socio-cultural groups and tourism operators. The gathering was the celebration of this year’s Oodua Festival organised by Otunba Gani Adams.

    But of all the guests at the festival, one person stood out; the Director-General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, who the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse 11, showered rain of blessing on exhibiting diligence at work and showcasing passion at her duty post.

    Mrs Mbanefo, who was the special guest at Oodua Festival 2014 organised by Otunba Gani Adams, earned the special recognition and blessing from the Ooni of Ife.

    The Ooni said Mrs Mbanefo has demonstrated a unique quality and robust sense of responsibility since she assumed office. This according to Ooni, has distinguished her as a public officer that has a vision for the national mission.

    The royal father pointed out that he had kept an eye on the activities and acts of the Director –General since her appointment and she has performed creditably well by living up to her promises and building her vision for the nation.

    The Ooni said that he has particularly impressed by the determination of Mrs. Mbanefo to mobilise and kick-start tourism revolution in Nigeria via domestic tourism initiatives.

    “I have monitored her talking about domestic tourism and I have also read about her visit to tourism sites all over Nigeria, raising the consciousness of Nigerians to these wonderful gifts of God. And her presence here today, participating in Oodua Festival is a living testimony of her seriousness of purpose, diligence at work and commitment to national duty and vision,” he said.

    The Ooni prayed fervently for Mrs. Mbanefo, supplicating to God Almighty to grant her wisdom, equipped her with strength , good health and grant her success in NTDC while predicting that she has greater role to play by her in the affairs of the nation.

    “God Almighty will increase your wisdom, grant you good health, bless you, expand your coast, widen your thinking horizon not only to enable you mak a success at this post but ensure you perform better than your predecessors and see you through to a greater responsibility in this country,” Ooni prayed.

    The Ooni, who commended Mrs. Mbanefo for being the first Director –General charged with promotion of tourism to identify with Oodua Festival, assured her of the support of the ancestors of Yoruba land and invoked the spirit of Oduduwa, who she came to honour, to assist her in all her ways .

    He urged Mrs Mbanefo to hold on to God for strength, guidance and direction.

    “In all, of these, I enjoin you to trust in God, hold on to him. Always pray and put God first. Pray to God first thing in the morning, place before him all your activities and return thanks to him in the evening. With you doing this, the sky will be your stepping board,” he said.

    The Ooni, who declared Mrs. Mbanefo a Yoruba revealed that her father , Chief George Uwechue , SAN, the Owelle of Ogwashiku , has lived in Yoruba land for 42 years. He called on all Yoruba at home and in Diaspora to support Mbanefo’s vision at ensuring the blossoming of domestic tourism in Nigeria

    He lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing someone who has the right attitude and posture for the job, adding that Mrs. Mbanefo’s deeds, actions and vision since her assumption of duty at NTDC have vividly testified to the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan never made a mistake by appointing her to paddle the canoe of tourism sector to a prosperous bay.

    Mrs. Mbanefo who demonstrated her rich knowledge of the Yoruba culture, the Ife tradition, her domestic tourism vision and strides since she assumed office by visiting some pristine tourism sites in Kaduna, Abuja, Cross River, Bayelsa, Lagos, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Port – Harcourt for authentication, assessment and development.

    She expressed her gratitude to the Ooni for “the fatherly blessing and divine prayers offer her.

    Meanwhile, the management of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), under the leadership of Mrs Sally Mbanefo has been described as a purposeful team destined to lead Nigerian tourism sector aright. The Executive Chairman, Nigeria–Turkey Chambers of Commerce and industry, Dr Eze Eche Hyacinth made the observation when he led a delegation of his association on a business visit to the Headquarters of NTDC, in Area 1, Abuja.

    Dr Hyacinth commended Mbanefo for “carving out the domestic vision, which does not only tallies with the expectation of the people but squarely fits into one of the goals l of his association which prompted the visit and the proposal for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the vision with NTDC.”

    He revealed that the Nigeria – Turkey Chambers of Commerce and Industry “has set upon itself the task of promoting domestic tourism and trading activities between the two countries for mutual benefits. Hence the need for a synergy of purpose between the association and NTDC”

    Mrs Mbanefo commended the chambers for keying into the domestic tourism vision of the corporation, which she said would not only promote the appreciation of tourism sites in Nigeria but call the attention of governments for their development .

    She said the MOU would not only encourage bi-lateral cultural and tourism relationship between the two countries but pave the way for economic and social integration.

    Mrs Mbanefo said : “Our mission at NTDC is to showcase promote, showcase and facilitate development of our tourism assets. We are glad to find in you a willing, worthy and ready partner in the lovable efforts at selling Nigerian tourism potentialities to the world.”

  • ‘Art is dear to my heart’

    ‘Art is dear to my heart’

    The Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corportation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, is a lawyer, banker and self-taught artist. She speaks on her passion for art and why she will retire to art in this interview with Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme

     

    A large-sized photograph of the Virgin Mary with other Roman Catholic insignia stands at the door post. The collections reveal only a part of the host, a devout Roman Catholic. But, her other parts, unknown to many, are tucked behind her door.

    As the door opens, the guest is faced with the big picture: collection of colourful paintings hanging on the walls of the living room and study/studio, thus creating a picturesque many guests can’t ignore.

    Apart from paintings and drawings, some reference books on art grace her shelves. They include the biographies of Michelangelo, Klimt (Life and Work), Fabian Perez, Jack Vettriano, Frederick Hart, Rene Magritte, Auguste Rodin (Master Sculptor), The Work, The Man, The Big Picture-paintings in Paris, and four of her father’s (Chief Raph Uwechue) publications: Africa’s Who Is Who, Africa Today, Makers of Modern Africa, and Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War (Facing the future). All these books are inspirational to her.

    Welcome to the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo. It is like a mini art gallery of sorts.

    Confronted with such collections, not many guests will walk into the flat untouched by the themes of the paintings and drawings adorning the walls. In fact, the paintings are arranged in series and sections. From realism to abstract, surreal, portraiture and expressionism they offer a rich bouquet of expressions that dwells on nature, mask, nudity and horses among others. In one of the paintings on nudity, she explained that nudity reflects the true state of man, while mask tell of man’s pretence and deceit.

    Mrs Mbanefo, a former banker and top staffer of Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, is a lawyer, but with a passion for art. Despite studying Law, she never allowed her talent in art to suffer. At an early age, she discovered her talent in art and followed it up but she did not attend any art school to learn the basics of painting and drawing.

    The self-taught artist said she studied Law not because she was not interested in Fine Art but because that (Law) was her choice. Her first painting on environment was done 31 years ago. “Art comes to me naturally because I always love to be alone, and that allows me to focus on art. In fact, I prefer to detach myself when I am annoyed as it helps me to express myself. My first painting was done in 1982 and I had my first group exhibition during a talent hunt competition organised by IMB Plc in 1990. Interestingly, I won the most talented staff from the competition,” she recalled.

    She noted that if she had not studied Law, Fine Art would have been the next option, saying she would still go to art school to study sculpture, especially raisonne. Her preferred choice medium is acrylic as against the popular oil. “These days, I am very busy so acrylic will meet my desire in terms of time. Sometime, I am so desperate to paint but time constraint will not permit me. Since I got the new job at NTDC, I have not painted. So, acrylic is ideal as it dries faster than oil,” she said noting that it also allows her to manipulate figures and forms easily. Interestingly, she is at her best while on sick bed.

    Apart from nature and environment, one common trace in her paintings is the presentation of human anatomy. “I love human body, form and outlines. And I have produced hundreds of paintings all in my private collections except those I gave out as gifts. I don’t paint for commercial interest. Art is my soul and my heart,” she added.

    When asked of her favourite Nigerian master artist, she named the founder of Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Agbarha-Otor and initiator of Harmattan Workshop, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, saying his works and techniques are very intense. “He tells story of our past in his works as he makes the viewers to think deep. Other artists I cherish their works are Tola Wewe, Joe Musa and Rom Isichie,” she added.

    On tourism promotion in line with her three-fold strategic imperative for moving the sector forward, she identified the Osun, Ekiti and Ondo tourism corridors as her top priority states in the Southwest. She said that following the authentication of sites across some states in the past six months, the Southwest has a wide range of sites that would interest tourists. These, she said, included medical tourism in Ondo State’s Mother and Child Hospital, Ekiti State’s rolling hills, Ikogosi warm spring and waterfalls, and Osun State’s Osun Osogbo Festival among others.

    She said that next year, NTDC would play a prominent role in the Osun Osogbo Festival, especially on how best to repackage the festival and give it international exposure. “Tourism is beyond festivals and carnivals as the core thing is how to make the sites appealing and attractive to both domestic tourists and foreigners. And the posturing and packaging must be done excellently. There are thousands of strategies, what differentiate each one is the culture of implementation: sharing common goal or vision”.

  • ‘We know the value of what we lost’

    ‘We know the value of what we lost’

    The Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo has said the good works of the former Ondo State Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, the late Deji Falae would remain indelible in the sand of time. She therefore urged the parents of the late lawyer to take solace in the joy that their son’s name would never be forgotten by Nigerians, especially the people of Ondo State. She said though his death is a huge loss to the state and the family, but that God who creates also takes.

    She spoke on Saturday in Oba-Ile, Akure residence of the Falaes while paying condolence visit to the family for their son, Mr. Deji Falae who died in a plane conveying the remains of former Ondo State governor, Dr. Segun Agagu to Akure for burial.

    Wife of Chief Olu Falae, Racheal Olatubosun, who spoke on behalf of the family, said that their hope is now his children who would console them in future. She stated that the late Deji represented the values they cherished and that they are proud of him. She added that only the family knows the value of what they lost and that for the wife, it is a painful one.

    “Deji was somebody we were building hope on before he left us. As Christians, we will take it be it good or bad. What gladdens our heart is that he is appreciated as demonstrated during his funeral. We feel that if the world can appreciate him so much, then God will do better. We urge his friends to continue to pray for his nuclear family because we want his children to console us in the future,” she said.