Babatunde Adesokan, the Chief Executive officer of Caprisok Travels and Tour services and a former PRO of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agency (Western Zone) and a member of the Institute of Management Specialist is the current Speaker of House3 Social Club of Ibadan. In this interview with Remi Oladoye spoke extensively on his intention if elected as Vice Chairman Western Zone of the NANTA. Excerpts:
Background
I was born and brought up in Ibadan. I had my primary and secondary education from IDC Primary School and Moslem Grammar school, both in Ibadan, from 1976 and 1988. I studied Mass Communication at Auchi Polytechnic from 1989 and 1993. I worked briefly with Cutevine Communication in Abuja before proceeding to the United Kingdom in search of greener pasture. I returned to Nigeria and partnered with a friend to run a travel and tour company, Delly network travels & Holiday Resources Ltd. He served as a principal partner in the partnership before starting up his personal company, Caprisok Travels and Tour services Ltd, in Ibadan. I am an Amadieus certified and a member of NANTA. I have served as a PRO in the Western zone of NANTA, while I also belong to Jaycee International. I am a fellow of the Institute of Management Specialist and the current Speaker of House3 Social Club of Ibadan, a non-governmental organization with a charity mission. I am a team player with broad travel experience, he is married with kids
Aspiration to lead NANTA, Western Zone
Thank you, first and foremost as a financial member of this great association with broad experience in the industry I believe am qualified to run for the office of the vice president of the zone. Moreso given the current situation this zone found itself whereby we have dropped from being the most vibrant zone in NANTA due to lack of competent leadership and I think the best decision any loyal member take is to salvage it from total collapse. For instance as an aviation industry in the last two years of this administration, no single agency/ airline forum was organized for the benefits of this zonal members, No single developmental training or workshop was organized, not even a single fam trip to expose members to new destinations to sell as Tour operator.
Now tell me what does a member stands to gain from being part of this association if all these programmes cant be organized by the so-called leaders that were voted in for the past two years? So my decision to run for the office of the vice president of this zone is to salvage our association from nose-diving and also to empower our members with their deserved benefits as a member.
What to do differently?
If elected as the vice president of this association in this zone, I intend to bring all members together as one big family under one umbrella called NANTA. This is paramount given the background of the fact that most members are feeling aggrieved since the last election in 2020 because of the winner take all attitude of the outgoing administration. Also, I think members’ welfare should also look into, a situation whereby most members find it difficult to operate under some stringent conditions from the government agencies will be addressed if voted in especially on tax issues. Secondly, the issue of fake agencies that defraud members of the public will be seriously tackled because these are the ones spoiling businesses for genuinely registered agents. Modalities have been drawn on how to engage the state government on how to achieve this. As a professional association, it will amaze you that NANTA western zone does not have a single transport or permanent site or secretariat of its own…this is very shameful but with my coming in as VP I believe we will have a self revenue-generating secretariat like NUJ and NBA to ourself, it’s very doable. It’s all about leadership zeal and Social relations. Finally, Membership skill acquisition is very key to this incoming administration whereby every member will have the opportunity to attend at least two training and workshops in a year in collaboration with airlines and our other partners in business like the GDS. Also, destination discovery through fam trip will be for the members to be able to have places to sell
Advice to members
On my advice to our members, first I want to seek their vote and I want us to understand that NANTA belongs to us all not factional and that there is gain in unity, therefore, all hands must be on deck to achieve Great Things. I will like to implore all members to pay their dues regularly because that’s the only tool we have to fight for our rights when the time comes for one. Thank you.
