The High Chief, President General of Ohaneze Indigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has been formally inducted as the Grand Patron of Africa Sports and Tourism Awards (ASTA), marking a significant milestone in the industry.
This momentous event was held on Thursday, the 25th of April 2024, at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, where a new chapter unfolded in realm of sports and tourism recognition in Africa.
The ceremony has the former Minister of Interior and also former Governor of Osun State, Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the Special Guest of Honour, drew industry players, dignitaries and enthusiasts from across the continent.
Also present at the event were the Nigerian Honorable Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, Honorable Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade John, their counterpart from Ghana, Minister of Sports and Youth, Hon. Mustapha Ussif among other numerous dignitaries.
During the induction ceremony, His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, commended High Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s unwavering commitment to advancing the agenda of sports and tourism in Africa.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration and collective effort in harnessing the transformative power of these industries to create opportunities and empower communities.
In his acceptance speech, the High Chief lwuanyanwu, expressed his nostalgic feeling having won an award during his youthful age, and to also be recognised once more at age 80 was a touching moment for him.
He appreciated the convener for the honour and promised to give all his support especially from his people.
As High Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu assumes his new role as Grand Patron of the Africa Sports and Tourism Awards, the industry looks forward to his guidance and leadership in steering the course towards greater heights of success and impact.
His induction marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards realizing the full potential of sports and tourism as catalysts for development and prosperity in Africa.
The induction of High Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as the Grand Patron adds a new dimension of leadership and guidance to this esteemed platform.
The Africa Sports and Tourism Awards, an initiative spearheaded by Amb. Peace Onuiri, CEO of Project Fly With Us, has emerged as a beacon of excellence, celebrating remarkable achievements, contributions of individuals, organizations in advancing sports and tourism across Africa.
The presence of industry players at the event underscored the significance of ASTA as a platform for fostering synergy and cooperation among stakeholders in the sports and tourism sectors.
It also provided an invaluable opportunity for networking, exchange of ideas, and recognition of outstanding achievements, inspiring a new wave of innovation and excellence across the continent.
Amb. Peace Onuiri, the driving force behind ASTA, expressed her gratitude to High Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu accepting the role of Grand Patron and for his unwavering support for the vision of the awards.
She reiterated the commitment of Project Fly With Us to continue championing initiatives that promote the growth and sustainability of sports and tourism in Africa.
Also Awarded were Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Hon Lola Ade-John, Hon Mustapha Ussif, the Lagos State Goevernor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senator John Owan- Enoh, Sir Kesington Adebutu, Hon. Imaan Sulaimon-Ibrahim, Princess Dr. Haastrup among others.
