FROM Iateef Taiwo

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has appointed Mr. Andrew Okungbowa as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

In a statement, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said the appointment takes immediate effect.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, has approved the appointment of Mr. Andrew Okungbowa as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

“The appointment takes immediate effect.

“Okungbowa is a journalist and communication expert, with vast experience as an editor and media consultant. He was the Editor, Travel and Tourism at New Telegraph and served as President of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET).”

Ogie added, “He graduated from the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in 1988 and holds a Masters degree in English from the University of Lagos, (UNILAG).”

Born on July 14, 1964 in Benin City, Edo State to Mr. John Ogierakhi (Late) and Mrs. Victoria Amenaghawon Okungbowa of Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City.

He had his primary school education in Izevbigie Primary School, Benin City and secondary School Education at Edokpolor Grammar School, Benin City.

He studied at University of Benin, Benin City where he graduated with BA in Theatre Arts and then proceeded to old Imo State now Abia State for his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) for one year. At the end of his service year, he returned to Benin City before re-locating to Lagos.

Through encounter with friends in other professions and journalism, he entered into journalism and did a post graduate diploma programme in Journalism at the University of Lagos, Akoka, where he also earned a Master degree in English (Litt).

He started his journalism career as a freelancer after working few months in a photography outlet as a sale representative.

He had a brief stint with Daily Times Newspaper for almost a year before gaining full employment with the defunct Sunday Republic Newspaper where he was Arts and Culture reporter.

In 1993, he joined The Guardian Newspaper (Sunday Guardian) as a reporter covering the Arts, and later leisure and tourism and then assumed the position of Travel and Tourism correspondent. He also had the privilege of being one of the pioneering reporters for the Guardian Life (In the stable of The Guardian) covering Travel and Tourism.

After two decades in the Guardian, he left in 2013 to set up a media and travel consultancy outlet. He has had the privilege of handling media work and consultation for a few individuals and corporate bodies.

He also worked for over a year with the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) as Administrative Secretary and in December 2013 was called to join the pioneering team of New Telegraph Newspaper as Editor, Travel and Tourism.

He has over the period attended several training and certification courses in Journalism, travel and tourism, public relations and marketing, publishing, use of Microsoft and page building among others.

He is also widely travelled and has had the privilege of attending and covering major travel events across the world with particular reference to the four internationally recognized travel exhibitions: WTM in London, ITB Berlin, FITUR, Spain and Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

By the same token, he has also widely travelled across the country covering major events and tourist destinations and interacted widely with stakeholders and operators across the divide. There is hardly any state, city or town and notable tourist destination or attraction that in the course of over two decades of work as travel and tourism reporter that one has not covered with special flair for destination reportage.

He is happily married with three children.