President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Olayiwola Nurudeen Awakan as the new Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
Awakan, a veteran broadcast journalist with TVC News, will serve a four-year term beginning September 18, 2025 in line with the provision of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act, 2015.His appointment is part of President Tinubu’s broader strategy to reposition tourism as a major driver of economic growth and national branding.
A statement signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, described the appointments as a reflection of the President’s commitment to strengthening institutions through the appointment of experienced professionals.
Widely respected in the media industry, Awakan has earned multiple awards, including the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) for TV Producer of the Year (2022) and Trek Africa’s Reporter of the Year (2019/2020). He is also a playwright, credited with stage productions such as Echoes of the Drum, Tafawa Balewa, Abibatu Mogaji, Well Done Sir, Blood and the Smile amongst others.
Following the announcement, tributes and congratulatory messages have poured in from across the arts, media, and tourism sectors. Among the organizations praising the appointment are the Pacesetters Art Company, the Association of Travel and Tourism Writers of Nigeria, BrandTell Nigeria Limited, Cyrus Multimedia International, and the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners.
In related appointments, President Tinubu also named Bello Bawa Bwari of Niger State as Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency, effective September 18, 2025, for a four-year term. Hon. Barr. Aminu Junaidu of Zamfara State has been appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Investment and Security Tribunal for a five-year term, also effective from September 18.
The President urged all appointees to deploy their expertise in advancing the mandates of their respective agencies and in delivering measurable impact for Nigerians.
