As preparations intensify for the forthcoming 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Oludayo Taiwo Gideon, widely known in industry circles as GidiBoss, has embarked on a series of engagements across the association’s zones in what stakeholders describe as a deliberate effort to strengthen institutional cohesion and inter-zonal collaboration.
Gideon, a travel industry leader, CEO of Aeroport Group, and former two-term Lagos Zonal Public Relations Officer, began his engagements in Lagos, where the zone held its AGM marking the end of tenure for outgoing executive officers.
The transition, overseen by respected Board of Trustees members including Daisi Olotu and Durosinmi Etti, featured formal handover proceedings, valedictory remarks, and presentation of certificates of service to executives who had completed their terms.
At the Eastern Zone AGM in Port Harcourt, he witnessed the election of a new executive committee and congratulated both outgoing and incoming officers for their stewardship and commitment to advancing professional standards within the region.
A notable highlight of the Eastern Zone meeting was the emergence of Emmanuel Ossai, one of Gideon’s former students, as Zonal Public Relations Officer — a development viewed by many as reflective of sustained mentorship and capacity development within Nigeria’s travel industry.
Industry stakeholders present at the Port Harcourt gathering, which featured participation from regulators and airline representatives, emphasized the importance of structured communication, regulatory alignment, and improved coordination across zones.
Gideon’s engagements further extended to the Northern Zone in Kano and the Abuja Zone, where leadership transitions and stakeholder interactions focused on strengthening information flow, reinforcing compliance standards, and enhancing the association’s national representation.
He also attended the Western Zone AGM in Ibadan, continuing what observers describe as broad-based engagement aimed at fostering unity ahead of the association’s milestone 50th AGM.
During his tenure as Lagos Zonal Public Relations Officer, Gideon represented NANTA at the World Travel Market (WTM) London in 2024, where coordinated media representation enhanced the association’s international visibility.
Visual content from the Nigerian delegation was subsequently utilised by the WTM media team in promotional materials for the following year’s event, underscoring Nigeria’s growing presence within the global travel trade ecosystem.
Speaking during interactions across zones, Gideon emphasised the need for stronger inter-zonal communication, institutional continuity, and responsible representation of members’ interests at both national and international platforms.
He is a cleared nominee for the position of National Publicity Secretary of NANTA, subject to the ongoing electoral process.
The forthcoming 50th AGM of NANTA is expected to convene travel professionals, airline operators, regulators, and tourism stakeholders from across Nigeria in what is anticipated to be a defining moment in the association’s history.
