Akwaaba Africa Travel Market,one of the West Africa’s leading travel fair, ended it’s 14th edition on Tuesdays in Lagos.
The three-day event started on sunday with so much fun fair with traditional songs and dances by the Lagos state Arts and Culture troupe which electrified the venue, also with lots of exhibitors in the travel and hospitality sector from across Africa.
The 3-day event was declared opened by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Lagos state supported by the Director General, Nigeria Arts and Culture Commission, Otunba Segun Rusewe, Senator Ita-Giwa popular called Mama Bakassi and many other dignitaries.
Guest and participate were well entertained by the beautiful dazzling calabar carnival babes who captured the attention of all in attendance with their decorated feathers attire.
The over 100 exhibitors at the event and guests also tasted Jollof rice prepared by Nigerians, Gambian and Ghanaian chefs in a competition to ascertain who prepares the best Jollof rice in the Jollofrice Wàr 2 which is the second edition in the series.
And guess what? Gambian jollofrice came First.
Apart from the taste of the Jollofrice of the competition, other varieties of food were provided including drinks and palm wine.
Guests at the event were impressed with this year’s turn out, as there were exhibitors with different mouth-watering products and goods to sell and offer.
One of them said, the full participation of the Lagos State Government was commendable and urged other states to take a cue from Cross River and Lagos to showcase their tourism potential to attract tourists and potential investments to their states.
They commended the organizers of the AKWAABA show for the arrangements and the caliber of participants who showed interest in the exhibition and urged them to continue to reach out more to airlines outside of Africa.
The Nigeria Arts and Culture Commission, had a lot on display, artifact from the different ethnic groups in the country, locally made and beautifully designed laces, Nigeria produced and packaged Garri, Beans and yam flour in sachets.
The commission also provided free acqusition training to interested participants to learn how to make soaps, antiseptic liquids,beads etc.
The stand of the Gambia Tourism Authority was very colourful with different types of bangles, ears, wood carvings, clothes materials adorning the stands, not left was that the Ghana Tourism Authority designed with the well know Keinte material and worked by all Manning the stand.
Others includes the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN manned by staff of the Corporate Affairs department who gave out souvenirs to those who visited to enquire about their services.
Lagos State hosted a special day at Akwaaba on Tuesday tagged. Lagos Day, with special cultural and artistic presentations to showcase the best of Lagos.
