Mrs Fatima Garbati is dead. She died during an Operation to remove a Tumour in her Brain.
A Nigerian tourism development expert, Ikechi Uko who shared the sad news disclosed the Operation which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital in Ife, wasn’t successful.
Mrs. Fatima Garbati was former director consumer protection of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
She has decades of experience in the tourism and aviation industry.
A contributor to the bedrock of legislations and enacted rules that have impacted positively to the sustainability of tourism legislation in Nigeria and Africa.
A founding member of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP 1993), and a past president of the association, she alongside other exco members,, contributed immensely to the creation of the Calabar Christmas carnival, which is a yardstick of tourism engagement in Nigeria, in addition, she has geared the association towards creating network and synergy along various chains of tourism products, as well as encouraging it to support profitable, working relationship with other countries, most recently South Africa.
During her stint at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, she championed consumers issues with a focus on tourism sector, and in 2006, headed the committee that resolved the consumer protection rights and payment of compensation to families of victims of air mishaps in Nigeria, she has continued to embody true tourism values by being a focal stakeholder engaging with the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Ministry of information and culture, and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NAHOTOURS).
Fatima represented Nigeria internationally on several platform, of note as the chairperson of IATA investigating panel for 10 (ten) years, representing English speaking west Africa as well as representing Nigeria at the ‘Yamoussoukro Decision’ meetings until 1995.
Mrs Garbati will be buried today 1st of June at Ebony Vaults beside the Ikoyi Passport Office.
Her death is a great loss to the industry, as she will be greatly missed.
May her beautiful Soul Rest In Peace
