TCF Organises AGM, Inaugurates Working Committee

Ugo Aliogo

The Touristy Consultants Forum (TCF) has organised its maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) which provided the platform for the election of new Executive Members who would take over the mantle of leadership from the Board of Trustees and the Interim Director.

The event which was held on Monday, 14th May, 2018 at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, the River State Capital, had in the attendance an overwhelming number of TCF members from across the country, the Director of Tourism, Mr. Ibitoru Princewill, who represented the River State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Director, Tourism for Bayelsa State, Mrs. Amokiese Godwin.

In her remarks, the Chair of Board of Trustees of TCF, Mrs. Ngozi Ngoka, stated that her desire is for the TCF to become a major player in the Nigeria’s tourism industry by promoting excellence and best practice in tourism related consultancy services through innovative training, networking opportunities and collaboration with key stakeholders in the tourism sector.

She charged the incoming working committee and members to run with the vision and take the forum to enviable heights, adding that there is a need for all members of the forum to be guided by the forum core values of Professionalism, Integrity, Innovation and Excellence (PIIE).

Earlier in his opening remarks, the TCF Interim Director, Dr. Yemi Taiwo Eniola, advised members that the forum is aimed at providing members with access to new business opportunities, while actively promoting the range of members’ expertise and experience.

He also stated that TCF is aimed at promoting the highest standards of professionalism and integrity among members and provide any viable procedures of certification both locally and internationally.

Eniola added that the forum would be a platform to share expertise by seeking association with compatible membership associations worldwide, providing an avenue for discussion of important topics or developments in the industry “likely to affect members’ interests, and communicate members’ views to the appropriate audience.”

After the election, the following were elected to serve in the working committee that would steer the affairs of the association: Ms. Clara Chinwe Okoro, Director, Mr. Ugo Aliogo, Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Tolulope Dopemu, Secretary, Mr. Atei Inengite, the Treasurer and Dr. Eniola Yemi Taiwo, Training Secretary. While the Sub Committees were later created to help in driving the vision of the forum. These include; Publicity, Advocacy, membership, Event and Training, and Finance committees.

There were two academic paper presentations during the AGM by Head, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Imo State University, Prof. Chukwudum Okoli, presented a paper on “Innovation and Creativity: A Strategic Approach to Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism Management” while a Senior Lecturer, Department of Hospitality Management and Tourism, University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Gideon Uboegbulem, on: “Tourism: Driving the Wheel of World Economic Development.”

After the swearing in of the Working Committee, all members read and signed the TCF code of conduct. The newly elected Director Okoro, lauded all members for the opportunity to serve in such position and promised to contribute her quota to take the Forum to an enviable level. She is a brand specialist. She is the Founder, Brandworld Media and Brand Consultancy Company which uses branding as templates for its operations. She set up the first ever Brand focused television show in Nigeria known as BRANDWORLD. She is also the founder and creative director of My BEAUTIFUL AFRICA, a brand she uses to drive tourism to Africa through Fashion and Life style. Okoro takes over from the Interim Director, Dr, Eniola Taiwo, a Seniorr Lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt.

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