A gathering of leading tourism practitioners in Nigeria is not complete without him. He is the ever-smiling, amiable, reserved, highly cerebral, versatile, and insightful leader who is creatively providing strategic direction for tourism practitioners in Nigeria. He is the Executive Director/Managing Consultant at TDF Consultants Limited. However, it is his exemplary service to Nigeria through his footprints in the tourism industry that have earned him critical acclaim at home and abroad.
Meet Aare Abiodun Odusanwo, the multiple award-winning National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN). Here is a man that is globally recognised and reputed as an education consultant, quality assurance practitioner, international Tourism Development Professional, and chartered management practitioner,
His Strong Pedigree
A man of many parts and many dimensions, Chief Odusanwo is a lecturer, marketing expert, sports educator, and ardent tourism practitioner. He has a strong pedigree, right from the United Kingdom where he lived and worked for decades. He is well-educated with a bagful of impressive academic and professional qualifications, membership in reputable professional associations, and a wide network of valuable contacts
Leadership Par Excellence
As the President of ITPN, Chief Odusanwo leads a team of dedicated, skillful, and experienced technocrats who have over the years acquired extensive commercial expertise and public sector experience which they are deploying to turn ITPN into Nigeria’s premier professional membership organisation and an awarding body for the Hospitality Travel and Tourism Industry. His leadership style has produced several leaders who are competent enough to do the right thing with minimal guidance.
His UK Footprints
As a Tourism Educationist, Chief Odusanwo served as a College Principal in London during which he was actively engaged in the harmonisation of tourism, academic and vocational qualifications in Europe, and the advancement of tourism education across many countries.
He has lived a substantial part of his life impacting knowledge to others. This is a fact attested to by Nigerians living in the United Kingdom where Odusanwo spent the better part of his life, playing a pioneering role in education and human resource development, leading to his earning the prestigious membership of the Investor in People (IIP) Recognition Panel.
While in the UK, Chief Odusanwo effectively articulated Black and Minority Ethnic Communities’ strategic development plans through his good neighbourliness and healthy relationship with diverse nationalities through his membership of the Nigeria-British Forum, the Royal African Society, Egbe-Omo Yoruba in Europe, and the Executive Council of the Lewisham Community Network (LCN).
National Tourism Transport Summit
As President of the ITPN, Chief Odusanwo instituted the National Tourism Transport Summit and Expo as the flagship event of the Institute meant to explore the synergy between tourism and transportation for the growth of the two sectors, and the socio-economic benefits of Nigeria. Chief Odusanwo has secured for the Institute the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Quality Award Certification. He also got the ITPN the prestigious membership of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Strategic Partnerships
He has successfully worked on projects in partnership with nations, regions, cities, hotels, companies, and resorts to develop their tourism potential, improve income generation, and deliver real growth. He has also partnered with public sector agencies to maximise market opportunities and increase profit. He hosted various business enterprise development training, small business seminars, and executive development workshops in the United Kingdom. He is a registered Tourism Practitioner, Member of the British Tourism Society, and the British Tourism Consultants Network.
Honours and Awards
Chief Odusanwo emerged as the winner of the prestigious 2022 Tourism Personality of the Year Award organized by the Nigerian Tourism Awards. He was honoured in recognition and appreciation of his enormous contributions to the sustenance of professional practice and skill competence in the Nigerian tourism industry, as well as the promotion of the sector for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Earlier, In recognition of his service to humanity and lifetime achievements, the Alaafin of Oyo, HRM Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (now deceased), conferred the chieftaincy title of Aare Soludero of Oyo Empire on him, another affirmation of his being found worthy both in character, general disposition, and conduct to be conferred with an Oyo chieftaincy title.
