Nigeria’s hospitality expert, Idris, eulogies Segun Awolowo’s contributions to tourism in FCT

 

Alhai Abdullahi M. Idris, one of Nigeria’s leading tourism and hospitality experts, a teacher, consultant, administrator, and former Director of Tourism, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, who, during his stint at FCT, worked closely with late Olusegun Awolowo Jnr., scion of the Awolowo’s family, penned a glowing tribute to his former boss, who died on November 20, 2025, at the age of 62.

Idris described Awolowo’s tenure as the best era for tourism development and promotion in FCT, noting that if he, Awolowo, had stayed longer on the job that tourism in Abuja would had witnessed tremendous transformation given that he had penchant for tourism and laid the foundation for FCT’s tourism, however, Idris lamented the failure of his successors to continue on the trajectory he created.

 

Tribute

Afternoon today (November 20, 2025), I woke to hear the passing of Mr Olusegun Awolowo. May he rest in peace! Mr Olusegun happened to be the Secretary, Social Development Secretariat of FCT in 2007.In addition, he held the position of the Chairman, Board of Directors of the then Abuja Tourism Development Board, which I happened to be the pioneer Director, with about 60 employees.

He contributed immensely in the setting up and management of the Board; to mention a few: (1) He managed the Board of Directors very well; (2) Supported the Management under my leadership, with full sense of responsibility, respect and encouragement; (3) Our staff attendance of the famous Arguing Cultural and Fishing Festival; (4) Approved a study tour of some of our staff to The Gambia, which I led the delegation – (Dr Abiyoye Adepipe) was a member too.

Himself (Awolowo), his SA and myself, attended a lecture on Smart Cities Branding in University of Johannesburg, South Africa by the Scott Bedburry, who contributed to the success of Nike and Starbucks Companies.

(5)His SA and I attended a Conference in Singapore on Marketing and Promotion of Cities; (6) locally, staff benefited from training and visitation to tourism sites;

(7) He led us to the famous Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival; (8) He established a strong relationship with FCT Administration, especially office of the Honourable Minister, the FCT Treasury, National Troupe of Nigeria, National Art Gallery, and HOPA. He made efforts to support “Takushara” Historical site in Abaji Area Council. Mr Awolowo treated me personally as an elder, and with respect. He was very intelligent, accommodating and hardworking, with style and elegance.

However, he was transferred to Agriculture, leaving behind an incomplete Board, with no proper legal instrument, making it easier for the new SSD to downgrade the Board to a merely glorified department under the Social Development Secretariat.

If only he had stayed a little longer then he would have made more impact in terms of tourism in the FCT. Alas, today, he is no more on this earth.

To me, you were more than a Boss, but a brother, among everyone that I worked under it is only you whose big portrait I kept with me.

He was an example of simplicity – A colleague Director’s daughter wedding was held in Banjul, The Gambia, about 15 of us travelled to Senegal by air and took a bus to Banjul. We arrived Senegal-Gambia boarder at about 11.30pm and we were not allowed to cross that night to Banjul.

All of us, including him, slept in the bus till 600am before we continued the journey, attended the wedding and returned by road to Dakar again. From Tourism perspective, we experienced Sahel semi desert environment, saw hundreds of Baobab Trees (National Trees) of the Gambia and the Salt fields of kaulaha – Experience Adventure Tourism.

RIP!!!

 

PFOFILE

Olusegun Awolowo Jr. (27 September 1963 – 20 November 2025), was a Nigerian lawyer. He was the executive director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council from 2013 to 2021.

He was the grandson of Nigerian nationalist, socialist and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In July 2021, he was unanimously elected as the President of National Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) from ECOWAS member States.

Early life

Awolowo was born on 27 September 1963. His father (Segun Awolowo Snr.) died in 1963 at age 25 in a traffic collision on the old Ibadan-Lagos road. He was born two months after his father’s death. He attended primary school in custody of his aunt and uncle, Tola and Kayode Oyediran. Before then, he had lived with his mother alongside his other siblings.

Education

Awolowo started his education at the Maryhill Convent School alongside Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, all in the custody of Prof (Mrs) Oyediran. From there, he proceeded to Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos State for his secondary school education and completed his secondary school education at Government College, Ibadan.

On completion of his secondary school education, he proceeded to the Ogun State University (Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago Iwoye and graduated with an LLB degree.

Career

Awolowo worked with the law firm of Abayomi Sogbesan and Co. and also with the law firm of GOK Ajayi and Co. after his call to the bar in December 1989. He served in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as a Special Assistant on Traditional Institutions, Legal Due Diligence and Legal Matters.

He was appointed by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as Special Assistant and worked with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja as Secretary for Social Development and Secretary of Transport from 2007 to 2011.

After the election of a new government in 2011, he went back to his law practice until in November 2013 when former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him as Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
In July 2021, he was unanimously elected as the President of National Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) from ECOWAS member States.

NEPC

Awolowo was appointed the executive director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 and his tenure expired in November 2017, but he was reappointed as executive director and chief executive officer by late President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2018 for another four-year tenure.
In June 2019, the NEPC under his leadership planned a partnership with retail company, Shoprite for the latter to export Nigerian products to other African countries and beyond.

Zero Oil

Awolowo drove the Zero Oil Plan, as an economic blueprint for Nigeria. It was launched in 2016. He engaged to promote the plan with the private sector, relevant government institutions and international development partners and businesses.

Zero Oil is a part of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), a medium-term plan developed by the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning. His Zero Oil plan is to increase the country’s export by increasing production of homemade goods, moving from the export of raw materials to value-added products so as to increase the foreign-exchange revenue, to promote the value of Nigerian-made products and services abroad, and to create jobs. It aims to generating $30 billion in foreign-exchange earnings.

MOU between AFREXIM, NEPC and NEXIM

In 2018, leading NEPC, he signed a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) worth $1 billion with AFREXIM Bank and Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) at the maiden edition of Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2018) in Cairo, Egypt, which aimed at promoting trade among African countries.

Personal life and death

Awolowo was married with children. His daughter, Seun, is a motivational speaker and runs an NGO called Teach-A-Girl Nigeria, which focuses on Girl Child education in Nigeria. She is also the founder of Leads Africa and 3D Living Moments.