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Anago James Akeem Osho, Teaching Tourism and Tour guiding at Help Gate. |
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The founder, coordinator and facilitators/trainers |
The event was well organized and spectacular.
It was an opportunity to teach and deposit knowledge and experiences back to the community and inspire young and adventurous people. There were also older people who attended the training.
Help Gate Foundation aimed at giving people a second chance in life and are focusing on Tourism among other projects. The foundation believes that young graduates and youths can be self-sustainable instead of looking for job after graduation. The programme was aimed at training new graduates, youths and to expose them to the diverse opportunities that could be found in the Tourism industry. The Project Coordinator, Tamunoemi, said that the government of Nigeria
and other countries are directing their focus to Tourism. So, such training
couldn’t have come at a better time. The training is needed to fortify young
people who have interest or seek employment in the industry.
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Some of the Participants during the training |
The idea was to create job opportunities
through Tourism. Every community has a story to tell and some objects are
tourism products and these objects need a guide to interpret them. These
objects are important mostly because of their age and maybe because they are
unusual and not common, so therefore you will need a place to keep them. The
place you have chosen to keep these old antiques is called the Museum. It is
possible that what some people have in their community may be natural attraction
and monuments which could be a river, hill, farm, nature conservation etc. Yet,
if well managed would create job opportunities, preserve the history of the
community, and enrich the local economy.
The travel and Tourism
training which was organized by Help Gate Foundation had experienced and seasoned
personalities as the trainers.
The trainers are Anago James
Akeem Osho, a Museum Curator, Creative Artist, Professional Tourist guide and
founder of Anago Tourism Adventures. Anago was a member of the Demosite Management
Committee of the COAST PROJECT in Badagry, organized by UNESCO, UNEP, UNWTO and
Lagos state ministry of Culture and Tourism. The project was aimed at promoting
sustainable and Coastal tourism.
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Anago James Akeem Osho, demonstrating during his teaching |
Anago received an award as the best Culture
and Tourism promoter 2015, by Eko vision magazine. He wrote a book titled
LEKELEKE: Folk stories, Poems, Maxims and Tourism adventure pictures. He is
working on two books to be released before the end of the year.
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Mr Pelu Awofeso during his lecture |
Mr Pelu Awofeso, a travel
journalist, winner of CNN/Multichoice award in Tourism and the founder of
Travel Next Door. He has written about three books and the most popular had
been The Tour of Duty which describes the authors travels across Nigeria.
Lekan Adedeji, the ace
photographer, who taught photography and he was a part of the Lagos, a
visitor’s guide book project.
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Mr Adjarho (World Wrapperman and Anago). |
Mr Adjarho David Obaro, popularly called
world Wrapper man also graced the occasion and his presence was well
appreciated as he gave a convincing speech of encouragement to the trainees and
his journey on how he became recognized by the Guinness book of world record.
TOUR TO THE NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS
The training was divided
into two parts. It was divided into theoretical and practical. Tourism is a
practical job. On day one, after class work and tea break the trainers and
trainee attended the Nigerian International book fair inside University of
Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.
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Anago and students at the book fair who remembered him during their visit to the Slave Museum |
The group returned back to the foundation to continue the
training but a scene ensued at the book fair when some elementary school students
sighted Anago James Akeem Osho. They shouted ‘’Mr Born Again’’. The Children
created a scene as they held on to him and gathered around him. The teachers
who brought the children to the book fair were also excited to see him.
The students have visited
the Slave Museum in Badagry before and had been guided around by Anago Osho.
The children remembered Anago telling them that he was a reincarnated Slave, so
he was a Slave in Cuba, born in 1753 died and became ‘’born again’’. Most
people wondered how Anago Oshok nows so much about the slave trade and Slavery
and he often reply them by saying he is born again.
ESCURSION TO BADAGRY
On day two of the training,
the students left Surulere to have a practical tour guide experience and
excursion to Badagry led by Anago James Akeem Osho. The tour in Badagry began
with a group assignment and introduction. The tour began at the Brazilian
Barracoon of SerikiFaremi Williams Abass of Badagry. From the Barracoon, we
entered a boat that ferried us to the Slave point of no return. It was
interesting and colorful as everyone began to take pictures to savor the memory
of the training and adventures.
LUNCH AT STAR RISE GOLDEN
HOTEL, AGELASOH-AJARA, BADAGRY
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Lunch break at Star Rise Hotel Badagry |
We left the Slave point of
no return to have our lunch at Star rise Hotel, Agelasoh-Ajara, Badagry and we
were received by the Chairman and managements of Star rise golden hotel, who
were excited to take the trainee around their infrastructure.
DEPARTURE AND CERTIFICATE
AWARDED
After lunch, certificates
were awarded to the trainees.
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Trainees receiving certificates from Mr Tajudeen Akin Etiwon, representative of Star Rise Golden Hotel |
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The Project Coordinator, Tamunoemi |
It was a memorable
experience for both the trainers and the trainees and everyone that was
involved in the training. It was as if the experience should not end. People,
especially adventurous youths have been showing interest for the next training
to commence soon.
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Anago and students at the book fair who remembered him during their visit to the Slave Museum |
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Mr Pelu, World Wrapperman, and Anago |
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Anago Osho's African Lunch |
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Anago's lunch, day two. Efo riro, soup, Beaf, and Fish |
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Leaving for the practical tour led by Anago and Mr Pelu |
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Preparing to visit the point of no return |
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Trainees taking picture to keep the memories |
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Inside the luxury boat |
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On the point of no return |
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Serving participants. |
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Alhaji addressing the participants |