The Managing Director of ABC Transport, Frank Nneji, has won the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in West Africa Award and recognition.
The winners were unveiled in Accra, Ghana, while the award was presented to him at ABC Transport’s Corporate Headquarters in Lagos.
According to the organisers, Mr. Nneji won the award in recognition of his “trail blazing effort which has transformed land transportation across West Africa and in the process linking several countries conveniently through the gesture.
“ABC Transport, the most successful transport company in West Africa, has been at the fore front of conveying people and goods across West Africa for over a decade and in the process has transformed tourism in the region since it launched its fully air-conditioned coaches on the West African routes in 2004.
“Several other leading travel promoters in Nigeria and Ghana equally emerged winners of the award, among whom are Mrs. Uloma Egbuna, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Tour Brokers International; Mr. Simon Grindrod, the General Manager of The Wheatbaker Lagos; Dr. Michael Pinder, Group General Manager, Sun Heaven Hotels and Resorts, and Mr. Lehlohonolo Hloni Pitso, the Regional Manager West Africa for South African Tourism’s regional Africa office based in Lagos, Nigeria.
From Ghana are Ms. Hazel Gumpo, the Group General Manager of Oak Plaza Hotel; Leeford Quarshie, General Manager, La Villa Boutique Hotel; Mrs. Bella Ahu, CEO of Trafix Catering Limited; Dr. Daniel McKorley, the Executive/Chairman of McDan Group of Companies; Mr. Nicolas Jørgensen Gebara, General Manager, Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund and Mrs. Nancy Sam Quartey, Chief Executive Officer of Staple Travel and Tours, Ghana.
“The Top 100 Tourism Personalities was set up to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves and through their efforts or that of their organizations have impacted positively on the travel and tourism sector across the West African sub region, whose efforts have stimulated and helped to achieve their individual country’s tourism goals and forging interactions among stakeholders and customers across the region”, says Mr. Ikechi Uko, organizer of the awards.
The event in Ghana which was graced by his royal highness, a former Ghana’s tourism minister, the Nene Nagai Kassa VIII, Honourable Mike A. Gizo, Chief of Agomeda, and President of Shai Traditional, saw Carnival Calabar Queens from Cross River State Nigeria send the audience wild with excitement as they entertained. Ghanaian Drum dancers equally entertained.
In his speech, Mr. Frank Nneji, while receiving the award at his Company’s Corporate Headquarters in Amuwo Odofin, Mile 2, Lagos, said that, “As at that time in 2004 when we went into moving people and cargo from Nigeria through West Africa and back, there was only one flight from Bellview airline that was airlifting people at the time’.
Looking at the future of the company, Mr. Frank revealed that ABC Transport is currently introducing new buses on the West African routes for utmost comfort for passengers.
“We are introducing new buses with bigger leg room, the SprinterPlus, on the West African route. The SprinterPlus, a 14-seater bus, is specifically introduced for business and corporate travellers who need to get to their destinations quick as they would be travelling with very light luggage. A lot of hours are lost on the road while travelling with the coaches due to the large amount of cargo the buses carry because immigration and customs spend so much time going through the cargo at the borders.
“But the new SprintePlus introduction would save time. The buses are bigger than the usual sprinter and would afford passengers more leg rooms space and fully air-conditioned with enhanced comfort facility onboard”, he concluded.
In a report published by ATQNews.com, it was reported that the road transport companies have over the years impacted positively on the Ghanaian economy with increase in tourists flow.
