The Vice President,Namadi Sambo, was visibly elated as he decorated the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Chief Olusegun Runsewe, as the Tourism Man of the Year on behalf of the publisher and management of the NewsWorld/Pilot Newspapers company.At an elaborate ceremony graced by dignitaries and distinguished personalities from all walks of life at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Friday, 2 December, 2011, the NTDC boss, was described as 'The beacon of hope in the tourism industry.'Only a stone-hearted and devilish person would not be impressed by the bundles of achievements and fundamental changes which Chief Runsewe has brought into the hitherto dead corporation which is now the envy of others.The elements of the citation were impressive and enviable.Here is a man, a seven- footer, who plunged himself into the service of his fatherland with all the agility of his size and the robust intelligence which the Lord has blessed him with.Here is a man who was saddled with the responsibility of keeping alive a vicariously wounded corporation, which was bleeding profusely as a result of maldministration of inept and incompetent administrators.And without wasting time, Chief Runsewe took the sail off the wind and declared the death of the old order in the corporation.He immediately declared a state of emergency in NTDC, putting forward the concept of practical tourism, which is a proactive antidote of efficiency, effectiveness, proficiency and potent synergy with the stakeholders.And since he took over, the story of NTDC has changed the once docile corporation to one of the best performing and active parastatals in NigeriaChief Runsewe has taken tourism into the door mouth of every Nigerian and also exploring every opportunity at selling Nigerian tourism internationally at every opportunity.He is the first NTDC Director General to address a World Press Conference at the World Travel Market, London.The first helmsman of NTDC to introduce Sat Navigation to Nigeria.Runsewe is also the first Director General who thought of building a Fish House at Argungu Fising Village.Added to his eventful handling of NTDC is his belief that NTDC should be a show glass of Nigerian tourism, that should not be quartered in a dirty office fit only for pigs, he turned the Area 1, Old Secretariat, Garki office into a 21 century working place.Not done yet, Runsewe also transformed the hitherto dung yard environment of the NTDC office into a Tourism Village which is now a Mecca for visitors to Abuja.He was the chairman of the only successful, most colourful Abuja Carnival ever in 2006.His organisation ability and sense of management is so great that the President of Trinidad and Tobago sent an emissary to him to seek his touch in organising CHOGHOM in his country.For his heavy sense of patriotism and uncanny ability at promoting the image of Nigeria, Chief Runsewe was the first Nigerian Director General of NTDC to be given red carpet treatment in Spain and Dubai Travel Market. In fact, in FITUR, Spain.The nation in appreciation of his solid commitment to service and duty at NTDC, the Federal Government bestowed on him the National Honour of Officer of the Federal Government of Nigeria, (OON).The 2011 FeatHis achievements in the saddle as Director General of NTDC are so numerous and countless, but the nation and the world in general will never forget the feat which Chief Runsewe galvanised the NTDC to accomplish which rescued Nigeria from international shame and ridicule in 2011.The 51st independence anniversary of Nigeria would have gone without any remarkable event to cheer Nigerians on the day they were set free from the entanglement of British colonialism, if not for the Unity Concert planned by Otunba Runsewe, which took place at Tafawa Balewa on Friday, 30 September, 2011.The security situation and atmosphere prevailing in Nigeria prior to the date of celebration was not only alarming but chaotic, bearing in mind the various threats and counter threats from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the fear of Boko Haram insurgency.The fear was palpable. The security alerts were over the country. The fear was that Nigeria would collapse if there was any celebration at all anywhere and in any form.This was so intense and hot that even the nation had to adopt a very low profile style to celebrate what used to be a glamorous and exciting affair.The Federal Government had to shift the yearly celebration which normally takes place at the Eagle Square to the confines of the Aso Villa.In fact, Otunba Runsewe were man of agrarian determination who never looked back whenever he put his mind on a project, the mere fact that no event was allowed to take place in Abuja would have killed the programme and prevented the masses from having a feeling of their glorious day.This is because, just about 74 hours to the kick-off of a programme, which all the logistics for its success in Abuja were ready, venue secured, artistes engaged, mass invitation of guests and security assured, the directive came that no flambouyant or elaborate event should take place in Abuja.Going by the template of the early warning signals of insecurity, only an insensitive and irresponsible government would have taken chances and refused to take pre- emptive action to prevent another catalogue of woes and gnashing of teeth as a result of the dastardly actions of some few disgruntled nihilists.Realising that there was no way the event could take place in Abuja, Otunba Runsewe swung into action and announced the shifting to Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the very spot where the Union Jack, the symbol of British imperialism and colonisation was lowered for the hoisting of the Green'White'Green flag which symbolises freedom from the shackles of colonialism of the Imperial Majesty Service.This singular act cultivated international honour and respect for the nation. In fact, an IT expert, Mr Soji Adewunmi, who works with Pragmatic Technologies, and who witnessed the carnival had to remark that 'Nigeria must be grateful to the NTDC which organised the carnival at TBS today. What they have done is to tell the whole world that despite the dark news of bomb and insecurity, Nigeria is still a safe, secure and peaceful place.'Mr. Adewunmi pointed out: 'If the carnival had not been held, Nigeria would have sent a wrong signal, which would have been an affirmation that things are not really well with us. For the world might be thinking that a situation where the sense of insecurity and fear of bomb attack prevented the nation from celebrating its 51st independence anniversary might indeed be grave.Honestly, the pre-51st independence anniversary held by the NTDC at Tafawa Balewa Square, apart from being a remarkable event, was a generational statement made by the NTDC under Runsewe to tell the world that despite all negative perceptions, Nigeria is peaceful, safe and secure.Thus, with this, the management of the Pilot newspaper and Newsworld magazine is right in its conclusion of making Runsewe Tourism Man of the Year.For the cap of Tourism Man of the Year fits no other man's head than that of Chief Olusegun Runsewe. Court!
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