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ATICA 2025: Travel Industry Stakeholders Get Commendations For Excellence

Published

1 year ago

April 11, 2025

The 2025 Afrique Travel Industry Conference & Awards (ATICA) celebrated professionals, stakeholders, and experts of the industry in a glamorous event held in Lagos last weekend.

ATICA’s biggest prize of the year 2025 was carted away by Made Consult (Nigeria), who won the Most Outstanding Travel Agency of the Year; While the Most Outstanding Corporate Travel Company of the Year and the Most Outstanding Tour Operator of the Year were won by Borderless Priority Tours Ltd (Nigeria) and Peaceway Travels & Holidays(Nigeria) respectively.

The annual event also specially recognized stakeholders for their exceptional qualities and contributions in improving the travel industry in the continent: Herbert Odika, Sahco’s Executive Director of Operations, bagged the Innovation in Operational Excellence Award, while Capt. Ifeanyi Callistus, Pilot, Air Peace, was decorated with Customer Friendly Pilot of the Year, among others.

According to the convener of the event, Amb. Emmanuel Ossai, ATICA recognizes and celebrates outstanding achievements and contributions to the travel industry. The awards ceremony, which was held on April 6th, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel Lagos, served as a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration among industry players in Africa.

Ossai insisted that ATICA is committed to recognizing and rewarding excellence in the African travel industry, as well as providing a forum for industry professionals to come together, share ideas, and inspire each other to achieve even greater success.

His remarks during the fashionable occasion further read: “Our objective is to showcase the best in the industry and inspire others to strive for excellence in all aspects of their business. By highlighting success stories and innovative practices, we aim to raise the standards of the travel industry in Africa and promote tourism as a key driver of economic growth and development.

“ATICA is more than just an awards ceremony – it is a platform for networking, learning, and collaboration within the travel industry. We bring together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to share best practices, trends, and insights that will shape the future of travel in Africa.

“Our mission is to promote and celebrate excellence in the African travel industry by showcasing the best practices, innovations, and achievements that are driving the industry forward.

“Our vision is to be the leading platform for fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking among key players in the African travel industry, ultimately contributing to its growth and development.

“Afrique Travel Industry Conference & Awards (ATICA) is an annual conference and award ceremony that focuses on the travel industry in Africa. The event brings together industry professionals, stakeholders, and experts to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities in the African travel sector.

“Our objective is to showcase the best in the industry and inspire others to strive for excellence in all aspects of their business. By highlighting success stories and innovative practices, we aim to raise the standards of the travel industry in Africa and promote tourism as a key driver of economic growth and development,” the statement read.

Full list of ATICA 2025 WINNERS

MOST OUTSTANDING TRAVEL AGENCY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Made Consult (Nigeria)
2. MOST OUTSTANDING CORPORATE TRAVEL COMPANY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Borderless Priority Tours Ltd (Nigeria)
MOST OUTSTANDING TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Peaceway Travels & Holidays (Nigeria)
MOST OUTSTANDING TRAVEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Safari Yetu Adventures Limited (Kenya)
AVIATION SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Aeroport College of Aviation (Nigeria)
6. BEST CAR RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR.
WINNER: Borderless Priority Logistics Ltd (Nigeria)
BEST AIRPORT HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Airport Hotel (Kenya)
8. SERVICED APARTMENTS OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Wanderlust Suites Expeditions (Kenya)
9. CARGO COMPANY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jcsbrand Logistics (Nigeria)
TRAVEL CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR WITH RAPID GROWTH
WINNER: Flair Tourism Limited (Nigeria)

ATICA SPECIAL RECOGNITION

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
KOLAWOLE KUDIRAT TITILOPE – MD/CEO BAYTAL QIDA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
OUTSTANDING AUTOMOTIVE DEALER COMPANY OF THE YEAR
BAYTAL QIDA INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (BQ AUTOMOTIVES)
EXPERTISE IN TAILORED TRAVEL EXPERIENCES AWARD
Ayoola Olatunji – MD/CEO BEREETH TRAVEL & TOUR LIMITED
BEST TRAVEL SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
ONYIRIAGU CHIDIMMA MARIA-ACOSTA – MD/CEO. ACOSTA GLOBAL TRAVEL & TOURS LTD
INNOVATION IN OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
HERBERT ODIKA – Sahco’s Executive Director of Operations
CUSTOMER FRIENDLY PILOT OF THE YEAR
CAPT. IFEANYI CALLISTUS
PILOT, AIR PEACE
TRAVELNEXT & LOGISTICS LTD
Best Customer Service Award
NEXT RATED AVIATION SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
AEROSKYE SCHOOL OF AVIATION
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY
THE FLYZONE TOURISM
MOST BUSINESS-ORIENTED TRAVEL AGENCY AWARD
KIKINUELS TRAVELS AND TOUR
11. GLOBAL FASHIONISTA AWARD
DENRELE EDUN
INNOVATIVE TRAVEL CONSULTANT AWARD
ADIKE MIRACLE AMARACHI – MD/CEO. MIRAH GLOBAL CONSULT
13. OUTSTANDING AIR TICKETING COMPANY
AMB. PRINCE YOMMY OGUNGBE
CEO PRINOCC TRAVELS & TOURS LTD
OUTSTANDING ADVENTURE TOUR OPERATOR
MRS JOYCE E. OGUNGBE
COO PRINOCC TRAVELS & TOURS LTD
EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR
SANDRA AMANESI WOKOMA
MD FARE DEAL TRAVELS LIMITED
16.. BEST IN TAILORED TRAVELS
FARE DEAL TRAVELS LIMITED
BEST OVERALL TOUR OPERATOR
ONYIRIAGU CHIDIMMA MARIA-ACOSTA – MD/CEO. ACOSTA GLOBAL TRAVEL & TOURS LTD
EXCELLENCE IN TRAVEL PLANNING AWARD: RECOGNIZING EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS IN TRAVEL MANAGEMENT
FLY WITH ME GLOBAL SERVICE.

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Kwara: Security Team Kills Two Bandits, Rescues Two Kidnap Victims

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A security team, comprising operatives of DSS and forest guards, has rescued two victims of abduction in a forest between Oba Isin/Owa Onire area of isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

The rescued victims are 16-year-old Fatima Azeez and Ibrahim Azeez who is five-year old.

The team also eliminated two armed bandits, while others escaped with severe injuries as the security forces stormed their hideouts, according to a report by DSS and local authorities.

The security team also recovered several items from the kidnappers, including one Ak-47 rifle; one single barrel; one fully loaded magazine with nine empty; mini-solar panel; and food items.

The rescue operation is connected to the multi-agency counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts of the government.

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Kwara: Police Launch Investigations Into Killing Of Farmer On Farmland

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has commenced full-scale investigations into the killing of a farmer, Mr Azeez Garba, whose body was discovered on his farmland along the Owa-Onire axis, the boundary between Isanlu-Isin and Owu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area of the State.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, described the murder as “cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” and directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those behind the attack.

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased left home for his farm in the morning but did not return, prompting his family members and local vigilantes to organise a search.

The search party reportedly found his motorcycle parked on the farmland before discovering his lifeless body a short distance away. Police said the victim had sustained deep machete cuts.

Reacting to the incident, CP Adekimi ordered investigators to deploy all available intelligence and investigative resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“The killing is cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” the commissioner of Police said, assuring residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Although no suspect had been arrested as of Monday, the command said all available leads were being diligently pursued.

The police also assured the bereaved family, the people of Isin Local Government Area and the general public that investigators were working tirelessly to track down everyone connected with the crime.

“The Kwara State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and will not relent until every person responsible for this reprehensible act is brought before the law,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

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Kwara: Joint Security Team Arrests Alleged Cultist, Recovers Firearm

Published

3 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

A coordinated security operation involving the Kwara State Police Command, other security agencies and the Kwara State Polytechnic Security Unit has led to the arrest of a suspected cultist, Agboola Olamilekan, with a locally fabricated pistol recovered from him in Ilorin.

The operation, carried out as part of ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state, was described by the police as another breakthrough in intelligence-driven policing aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reducing the circulation of illegal firearms.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the suspect was apprehended during the joint operation while in possession of the firearm.

According to the statement, the operation is part of the Command’s sustained strategy to disrupt cult-related activities and deny criminal elements the opportunity to operate within the state.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.

“Every successful operation represents another step towards dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety across the state through proactive and intelligence-led policing,” the commissioner said.

The police disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the criminal network linked to the suspect.

The Command added that it remains committed to advancing the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, through intelligence-led policing, strategic collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sustained operations aimed at ensuring that those responsible for threatening the peace and security of Kwara State are brought to justice.