Nigerian Tribune Tourism Editor and multiple award winner and the National Public Relations Officer, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr Wale Olapade has been specially honoured by the Oyo State International Tourism Summit 2025 with the Tourism Advocate Award held at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, Ibadan on Wednesday, July 24, 2025.
The award which was personally presented by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Bayo Lawal was in recognition of Mr Olapade’s dedication and a testament to his exceptional contribution to advancing tourism, heritage, and cultural development in Oyo State.
Earlier In a pre-event letter signed by the Oyo State Commissioner for culture and tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun “On behalf of ITSOyoState2025, it is with great pleasure that we inform you that you have been selected as a recipient of a prestigious award at the International Tourism Summit Oyo State 2025 (ITSOyoState2025).
This recognition is a testament to your exceptional contribution to advancing tourism, heritage, and cultural development in Oyo State.
Your work stands as an example of excellence, commitment, and innovation that aligns with our vision of positioning Oyo State as Nigeria’s leading destination for heritage-led investment and tourism.
You have been selected as Tourism Media Advocate of the Year in recognition of your impactful work spotlighting Oyo State tourism through journalism and strategic media coverage.
Your award will be presented during the Governor’s Dinner and Tourism Excellence Awards, scheduled to hold on Thursday, 24 July 2025, as part of the closing ceremony of ITSOyoState2025. We warmly invite you to join us and receive this honour in person.
Recently, Olapade was one of the five industry tourism Editors selected nationwide for the first Fatima Garbati Foundation special grant for journalists category.
The widely travelled international and domestic responsible tourism advocate through his specialized Travelpulse and MICE column has won numerous tourism accolades which include Award of Excellence: Youth Tourism Club of Nigeria, University of Ibadan-2009; Travellinks Merit Award: Travellinks International Tourism Magazine-2013; Adamu Mu’azu Prize for Tourism Reporter-Winner Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA)-2014; MICE Journalist of the Year Nigeria-2017-ATQ Magazine; Outstanding Leadership Award in Youth Tourism promotion- StayUp Aviation-2017 and MICE Journalist of the Year West Africa-2018-ATQ-Magazine.
Others are Inducted into pioneer club of Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria, Abuja Jabamah 2018; Doctor of philosophy (Phd) in Travels and Tour Management-2018-Stayup Aviation; Best Tourism Journalist-Nigeria Tourism Awards ()BALEARICA Awards 2020); Nominee Travel Reporter of the Year Jumia Travel Award-2018; Cross River State Media Personality Award of Carnival Calabar -2021; Inducted into NANTA Media Hall of Fame for contributing to travel Industry in Nigeria-2021 and Best NANTA Travel Print Media Awardee 2021 as well as 2024 National Tourism Transportation Summit Outstanding Tourism Advocate Award among others.
