Uko, Babalola, 48 Others Named Among 2026 Top 50 Men in African Hospitality, Tourism

 Charles Ajunwa

The Hospitality Awards Africa has announced the 2026 top 50 men in the hospitality and tourism industry in Africa.

The organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, West Africa’s first international travel fair, Mr. Ikechi Uko and Acting National President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Hotel and Catering Institute (NHCI), Professor Wasiu Babalola and other Nigerians were listed in the 2026 top 50 men in hospitality and tourism in Africa released by Hospitality Award Africa.

Hospitality Awards Africa is organised and powered by 90 Degrees Ghana Limited, an event and marketing company based in Accra, Ghana. The organiation hosts the event in a different African country each year.

The hospitality and tourism sector is a major economic engine in Africa, contributing an average of $160 billion to $190 billion annually to the continent’s GDP. It serves as a crucial source of both revenue and employment for millions across the region.

Uko is a travel business consultant, tourism developer, entrepreneur, media consultant, journalist, and author with many years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. He curated the Seven Wonders of Nigeria (Naija7Wonders) project to promote domestic travel, and published the continent’s first regular travel magazine, Travellers Weekend.

Babalola is a distinguished polymath with extensive expertise spanning hospitality and tourism management, forensic accounting and audit, accounting, law, marketing, strategic management, tax practices and others.

He is a Professor of Hotel Management and Tourism as well as the Chairperson of the National Technical/Mirror Committee on Tourism and Related Services. He holds dual PhDs in Hospitality Management and Forensic Accounting and Audit, alongside numerous academic qualifications across diverse disciplines.

Others listed were Dr. Eric Mekueye, Lionel Djondo, John Madison, John Addo Kufuor, David Eduaful, Adedayo Olawuyi, Amit Dhanda, Beine Arthur, Devendra Asher, Fred Getachew, Barigye Sam, Habib Hjiri, Patrick Kiilu, David Macha Mwaka, Emmanuel Turatsinze, Boago Nfichane, Daniel Sambai, Martin Bredenoord, Martin Zarybnicky, Shashank Gupta, Ayo Ademilwa, Alain St. Ange, William Kwamina, Obaje Pius Uyo and Divine Mattey.

Also listed are Carlo Martins, Ashish Ugal, Paul Omache, and John T.Q. Nartey, Johnny El Ghobri, Abdelqader Alagamy, Prof. Kobby Mensah, Thomas Noll, Jonathan Hanson, Gareth Alexender, Morten Ebbesen, Paddington Muguza, Promote Paul, Dr. Samuel Itodo, Adedayo Adesugba, Robert Mensah, Isaac O. Adjei, Lucky George, Mulu Nzanvi, Anthony Akaeze, Seth Yeboah Ocran, Alex Essilfie and Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey.