Oluwabunmi Roselyn Bankole-Akinyemi is a Tourism expert, consultant, business development strategist, operations management expert and project manager with over 15 years’ experience across sectors. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Ilorin, and a Masters in International Management and Tourism Development from the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK and a second Masters in International Tourism Management from Swansea University. Oluwabunmi is the Founder of Tourvant, a tourism development consultancy offering services to individuals, corporate organizations and educational institutions. She is also the convener of the popular Naija Corn Festival - a festival that promotes Agro-tourism by showcasing Nigerian indigenous food. The event spotlights the Agro sector by identifying a value chain for Maize, and highlighting investment opportunities it carries. Follow Oluwabunmi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluwabunmi-b-akinyemi Follow Oluwabunmi on Instagram - @beambee

Season 2 of see the world with Ajala Nene has come to an end, and we want to appreciate our listeners and guest

Otunba Michael Balogun is the CEO and Founder of Xtrm Tours 2 Nigeria Ltd., brand name Tour2Nigeria which is a multi-award-winning domestic tour company based in the aquatic city of Lagos State. The company was established solely to offer tour packages, promoting them, and creating an inroad to Nigeria's tourism destinations. Otunba Michael is the South-West Vice President of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP). He has also partnered with a lot of hospitality businesses across the continent, and in the process, collaborated with acolleague from Tanzania (Msifari Travels and Tours) to create a dedicated group called Intra Africa Travels, and invited dedicated tour operators from the African continent to join to start promoting our continent and advocating for a borderless Africa. As an avid advocate for tourism development in Nigeria, he uses his social media platform, such as LinkedIn, to promote and showcase tourist destinations in the country, which has helped boost the sector's socio-economic results. Follow Michael on Instagram: @tour2nigeria Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbalogun

Susan Akon Akporiaye is the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Topaz Travel and Tours Limited, Abuja. In the space of two years of operation, her company became fully accredited, locally by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and internationally by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Susan was awarded the Top 100 African Women in the Travel and Tourism Industry in 2017 by ATQ. Topaz Travel and Tours has gotten the British Airways Gold Agent Award and British Airways Award of Best Selling Agent – Abuja and Northern Nigeria. She has also received outstanding performance awards from other Airline companies like Lufthansa; Ethiopia Airlines/Asky Award for the Highest Overall Sales; South African Airways; AirFrance/KLM Award; and other numerous awards. She was also the past President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) and the second deputy President of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN). Follow Susan on Instagram: @susan.akporiaye Follow Susan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-akporiaye-14016a168

Bolaji Seun is the Brand Manager of Naija Explorers - a Nigerian Tourism brand that seeks to showcase Nigeria's unique destinations and promote domestic tourism in Nigeria. Having travelled to 33 states of the country, Bolaji is a Travel writer, tourism promoter, and Tour operator. He has bagged a number of awards for his brand, including The Rising Start of the Year (Tourism) at The Pyne Award Africa 2022, Best Domestic Traveller in Nigeria at the Abuja Jabamah Festival 2022, Champions of Domestic Tourism in Nigeria 2023, and many more. A holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management, Bolaji was inducted into the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria in 2019. In 2023, he was recognised as one of the Africa Travel 100 Under 40 Awards by Akwaaba Travel Market. Follow Bolaji on Instagram: @seunbolaji24 @naijaexplorerss

Ayomofe Yejide Runsewe created an online travel company called Naija Nomads after an eye-opening trip to Morocco in 2011. Mofe started her travel platform in 2015 due to the lack of stories from Nigerian travelers. There were no online resources that Nigerians could relate to, and she wanted to change that. Since then, Naija Nomads has evolved from a blog to a full company that provides all kinds of travel needs, from content to experiences. It curates travel experiences and organizes group and custom travel trips for Nigerian green passport holders. She also runs Casa Nomads, a premier Short-Term Rental Company in Nigeria, that provides a “Home Away From Home” for their visitors. Follow Ayomofe on Instagram: @mofya @naijanomads Follow Ayomofe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yejide-ayomofe-runsewe-93b28048

Known as the Alárìnká of Africa, Omotoke Fatoki is a dedicated tourism promoter and “Travel Africa” Advocate. Her journey of backpacking across all 36 states in Nigeria garnered her numerous recognitions and awards, including being honored as Travel Blogger of the Year, Rising Star of the Year in Africa, Top 100 Tourism Promoter in Nigeria, and Tourism Personality of the Year. In 2023, she explored 13 West African countries in 70 days which earned her numerous accolades like the Rising Star of the Year (Tourism) by the Pyne Awards Africa. She is the Founder of Impact Adventurers Africa - An Impact and SDGs-oriented travel community that uses travel to positively impact the lives of people and communities visited. She has been featured in prestigious magazines and TV channels like BBC, Channel TV, Genevieve Magazine, Sparks Nigeria, Zikoko Mag, and other reputable mentions. Through her passion for promoting travel and reshaping perceptions of Africa, she strives to inspire people to explore the beauty and richness of the continent, whilst giving back to the communities visited. Follow Omotoke on Instagram: @thattokelady_ Follow Omotoke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omotokefatoki

Dr. Raphael James is the Founder and Director General of the Centre for Research, Information and Media Development (CRIMMD). He first established it as a library in 2004 at Ejigbo but later advanced into what we now see as a non-political, non-governmental, non-profit-making but standard research developmental institution. In the area of tourism, he is a historic and educational tourist. He has visited 33 out of 36 states of Nigeria and documented over 500 tourist sites in the last 9 years. To promote tourism, he has donated 50 books on Tourism to the Association of Travel and Tourism Writers of Nigeria, ATTWON. Dr. Raphael James has won a total of more than 200 awards for his commendable works to humanity. He was listed in the New Telegraph Newspaper of January 23, 2021 as Nigerian “Top Historian and Record Keeper” and Best Promoter of Domestic Tourism in Nigeria by ‘Naija7Wonders’. He has also won the Travellers Awards – Top Tourism Promoters for 2020, and a Certificate of Nigerian Tourism Specialist’ by NIHOTOUR, Naija7Wonders and AKWAABA Travel Market. Nigeria Tourism Awards recognised him as an ‘Industry Icon at Nigeria Tourism Award 2020’ for his contributions to the growth of Tourism in Nigeria. Follow Dr. Raphael on Instagram: @drraphaeljames Follow Dr. Raphael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-raphael-james-25182b3b

Omowumi Etiko is a travel and tourism expert with over 12 years’ experience in human resource management as well as travel and logistics management across industries. She is the founder and CEO of nuSafiri Hospitality which comprises of the nuSafiri Experience (focused on luxury bespoke travel) and nuSafiri Consulting (focused on Human Resource Management within the Hospitality industry). She holds a BA in Psychology from the Catholic University of America and an M.sc in Human Resources Management from the University of Sheffield and is certified by IATA. Omowumi and her team have lovingly executed countless memorable bespoke travel experiences, conferences and several group destination celebrations in 6 of the 7 continents of the world. Her clientele spans from individuals, families and leisure groups to corporates and celebrities. She is an avid promoter of inbound tourism with a passion for innovation and helping people, and she is willing to serve with excellence in the tourism and hospitality industry. This has led her to work on several initiatives to support homegrown talent, pushing the boundaries of creativity, arts and culture in Nigeria amongst which are Kidszone at Landmark beach, the Dance World Africa conference and Art X Lagos. Firms such as Landmark Africa, Tangerine, The Discovery Center, Hans & Rene, Omilola Oshikoya International, Navitas and more are also in her repertoire. Follow Omowumi on Instagram: @omowumietiko, @nusafiri Follow Omowumi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omowumi-etiko-57773251

Sòókò Deji Ajomale-McWord is the Founder of Sports, Tourism & Diplomacy Forum (Formerly African Sports Tourism Week), World Sports Tourism Day, Organizer of International Diplomacy Stableford Golf Tournament, Editor-In-Chief of Afri Diplomat Magazine and Managing Director at Diplomacy Publishing & Events and Commissioner of Sports Tourism, African Tourism Board. He has been recognized as one of the United Nations Most Influential People of African Descent, in the Media & Culture by Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD). He has also received a Special Recognition Award for Sports Tourism by the Nigerian Tourism Awards and Top 100 Most Powerful People in African Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute. Follow Deji on Instagram: @themcword Follow Deji on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prince-deji-ajomale-mcword-638941b5

Aisha Salami is a Travel & Tour Consultant with almost a decade of experience working with trade partners from across the globe to offer the best deals to her clients. She’s the Founder/CEO of Magsha Africa. With a background in Customer Relations, administration, Managerial & Human Resources, her career expands over several industries including; Fashion, Logistics, Finance & Travel. She’s passionate about her clients well well-being and getting the best deals for maximum satisfaction from their trips and when she’s not booking up or curating trips, Aisha enjoys travelling, listening to music, art, going on road trips, and dancing. Follow Aisha on Instagram: @mz_ashlez; @magshaafrica Follow Aisha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayo-salami-9814072b

To launch her tourism podcast, '𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗷𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝗻𝗲', Nnenna Fakoya-Smith hosted the "𝗔𝗷𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝗻𝗲'𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗳𝗳-𝗣𝘂𝗳𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆" and invited her community for a physical listening session 🎧🎙 This special edition features the Q&A session where Nnenna shares what inspired her to start the podcast, the challenges she faced, and lessons learned along the way🎙✈ So, grab your cup of delicious coffee and tune in to this special episode with our Afrocentric host, Ajala Nene 👣 🔋The launch party was powered by Africa Business Radio and Wokpa

Pelu Awofeso, founder and CEO of Travel Next Door Africa, is one of the leading names in Nigeria and Africa's domestic tourism space. His contributions to, and influence in, the industry cuts across journalism, publishing, and cultural consultancy. He is also the founder of Travu, a travel magazine that showcases tourist gems in Nigeria. He is also a regular contributor to Lonely Planet, the world's biggest publisher of travel guides. Pelu won the CNN/Multichoice African Journalists Awards in tourism reporting. He was awarded the Best Tour Guide in Nigeria (2017) and Best Travel Journalist in Nigeria (2019) by the Nigeria Tourism Awards. In a nearly 2 decades-long career, he has travelled widely around Nigeria - about 32 states- documenting several indigenous festivals and carnivals. His other travel interests include museums, monuments, nature, crafts and the daily pursuits of everyday Nigerians. He is also published with books like White Lagos, Tour of Duty, Route 234, One For the Road, and more. As an environment advocate, he co-founded Beach Samaritans, which has worked with volunteers since 2014 to clean up public beaches in Nigeria. Follow Pelu on Instagram: @peluawofeso Follow Pelu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peluawofeso

Abiola Kudirat Ogunbiyi, (LL.M) MITP is a woman on a change mission, a legal practitioner, founder and Managing Director of SJ Tours & Allied Services. She is the Chairperson, of the Hotel and Tourism Sectoral Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She is using Tourism as a Tool for constructive engagement to find achievable solutions to the - real or perceived - lack of integrity and character as well as Trust issues which hinder the citizen's commitment to the common good, peaceful collaboration, conscious regional integration, impacting trade, job and wealth creation. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day activities of SJ Tours & Allied Services, Mrs. Ogunbiyi also participates in conferences and workshops, focused on tourism and has influenced policymakers on the importance of tourism and integration in the ECOWAS sub-region. She also championed awareness in Traditional Sports and the Ayo board game was grafted into the annual Head of Service games during her tenure as the Chairman of the Lagos State Traditional Sports Association. She is also the architect of Alpha Oasis Ventures, an offshoot of SJ Tours and Allied Services. Alpha Oasis Ventures has a concept known as TREES, an acronym that serves as a nation-building checklist and promotes environmental consciousness. Follow Abiola on Instagram: @abiolakogunbiyi Follow Abiola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiola-k-ogunbiyi-223b1b296

Ayomide Adediji is a highly skilled Tour packager, Experience Curator, Destination Promoter, and Tourism Marketer. He is presently the Founder of The Ayomide Travels. A Tour Operating agency that provides local and international vacation packages, and promotes inbound tourism by actively participating in adventurous and cultural tours. Passionate and Vibrant, with almost a decade of experience working in the Nigerian Tourism space, he has risen to become a stakeholder in the industry; working with brands such as Goge Africa, Discoveria, etc. He has travelled across the country, actively promoting the Nigerian culture and festivals through media coverage, content writing and social media marketing. Follow Ayomide on Instagram: @ayomidethetraveller Follow Ayomide on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adediji-ayomide-b8777192

To wrap up Season 1 of '𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗷𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝗻𝗲', our Afrocentric host, Ajala Nene, takes a trip down memory lane to revisit the incredible stories and adventures shared by our amazing guests. A heartfelt thank you to every one of you, our dedicated listeners, for joining us on this incredible ride. A special shoutout to our amazing guests, our industry experts, who shared invaluable insights and experiences on the importance of tourism development in Nigeria and Africa. • Oluwaseyi Adegoke-Adeyemo • Ibrahim Makunjola • Jumoke Munu • Wemimo Kolade • Ayodele Omotosho • Vera Sharon Ohioma • Adedeji Olalekan • Sewedo Balogun • Nike Oresanya • Jibola Oluseye • Sam Adeleke and... • Faridah Sagaya Our dear listeners, this is not goodbye. We shall be back with more captivating tales for the next season. So, stay tuned as we continue to explore the world's wonders together. Until then, keep exploring, keep dreaming, and always remember, that adventure awaits. This is Ajala Nene, signing off until next season. Odabo. Ka odi. Sai wata rana. Bon voyage!

Faridah Olabambo Sagaya is a seasoned Travel and Tour Consultant with a wealth of experience spanning over two (2) decades, promoting Local and International Tourism. She is the CEO of Angel Style World Travels and Tours Ltd, a leading Travel & Tour company in Nigeria providing top-notch services to premium clients. She is a Zoology graduate, a member of SKAL International Lagos and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School (OMP11). Mrs. Faridah Sagaya an Ambassador of the African Tourism Board for Nigeria is also a member of the NESG (Nigeria Economic Summit Group) Sub-group on Industry Self-Regulation, Tourism and Hospitality Industries Thematic Group. Her accolades include being inducted into the Tourism 100 Club in 2020 as she received an award as one of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria and in 2021 she was also honored as Winner of the Tourism Supporter of The Year in Nigeria. Angel Style World Travels and Tours Ltd won the Best Domestic Tour Operator, Nigeria Tourism Awards by Balearica Awards in 2020. Follow Faridah on Instagram: @angelstyletravels Follow Faridah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faridah-sagaya-a93509204

Sam Adeleke leads the Nigerian chapter of Travel Massive, the world’s largest community of travel and tourism professionals. A well sought after, and multi-award winning professional, Sam is skilled at deploying his vast industry network in building community, driving organizational growth and profitability. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Lagos Business School (LBS), and the Dubai College of Tourism. He also is the Co-Founder of TravelWithSamGlobal, a boutique travel company providing bespoke vacation experiences and solutions. A business leader with expertise in destination marketing, he has worked on destination marketing campaigns with government agencies and parastatals, nationally and internationally. These include: United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Dubai Tourism, South African Tourism, Rwanda Development Board, Lagos Tourism, Akwaaba Travel Market, Kenya Tourism Board, Uganda Tourism Board, Ogun State Tourism, Africa Travel Association (ATA), Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) and Royal Carribean International, Air Namibia, Cabo Verde Air, Nigeria Travel Week among others. He also sat on the Tourism Sub-sector Committee of the Lagos State Government's COVID19 Pandemic Committee - to assess and review the impacts of the pandemic on the state’s cultural, creative and tourism sectors. Follow Sam on Instagram: @sam.adeleke; @travelwithsamglobal Follow Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wemimotolusekolade

Jibola Oluseye Abati is an award-winning tourism practitioner, and founder of Taste of Africa Vibes - Africa’s largest digital tourism platform on Facebook. It is a digital global community of over 61,000+ active members of Africa travellers, storytellers and content creators changing the narratives about Africa for good through digital tourism. His passion has earned him an edge to be one of the African voices as the winner of the 2022 Facebook Accelerator Programme. He is a member of the Meta Leaders Network and was awarded the Best Tour Guide and Young Tourism Personality of the Year 2021. He is also the convener of the Africa Travel Content Creators Conference. Follow Jibiola on Instagram: @tasteofafricavibes Follow Jibiola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abati-jibola-oluseye-92b042b5

Odenike Oresanya, or Hey Nikeh is a Travel Influencer and Content Creator. With over 50K+ followers on Instagram, she inspires people to live their best life and discover the beauty of God’s Green Earth. Having travelled to all of the 36 states in Nigeria including the FCT, she is an advocate for Nigerian Tourism, showcasing known and unknown travel destinations in Nigeria through her content. She is keen on changing the negative narrative surrounding the country. Nike has authored travel guidebooks for locations within Nigeria and West Africa and is a certified Travel and Tours Management Practitioner with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Benin, Edo state. She is also the Lead Curator of Funatics, a thriving community of young adults loving their best lives and having fun through events and travel. Follow Nike on Instagram: @heynikeh Follow Nike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/odenike-oresanya-61256a12a