The Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) is set to hold its 2026 Annual Conference and Awards in Lagos, with the Radisson Hotel Group and Chairman of the Avalon Group, Chief Tajudeen Owoyemi, among those to be honoured.
The conference, themed “Nigerian Tourism Industry and Tinubu Administration’s Immigration Reforms,” is scheduled to hold in late October at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
ANJET President, Okorie Uguru, said the awards recognise the contributions of Chief Owoyemi and the Radisson Group to the development of Nigeria’s hospitality industry over the past two decades.
Uguru said Chief Owoyemi has quietly played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s hospitality landscape through investments in major hotel projects and the development of hospitality infrastructure.
According to him, Owoyemi changed the hospitality landscape outside Lagos and Ibadan in 2005 with the opening of Avalon Hotel Offa, which was managed by W Hospitality under Mr. Trevor Ward.
He described Avalon Hotel as a reference point for quality facilities and service excellence at the time.
“For close to 25 years, Chief Tajudeen Owoyemi has quietly, but steadily influenced and shaped the Nigerian hospitality landscape with his conceptualization and building of top hospitality outfits that have helped to redefine hotels’ services and infrastructure,” Uguru said.
The ANJET president noted that Owoyemi subsequently expanded his investments into larger hospitality projects, including the Radisson Hotel, Radisson Blu Ikeja and Park Inn by Radisson in Victoria Island, Lagos, with other developments currently in the pipeline.
He also highlighted the employment opportunities created by Owoyemi’s investments, noting that his hospitality projects have directly employed thousands of Nigerians while supporting additional jobs through ancillary services.
Uguru said the investments have also contributed to strengthening Nigeria’s profile as a destination for business and leisure.
On the Radisson Group, Uguru said the international hospitality company had demonstrated consistent confidence in the Nigerian economy through continued investments and expansion of its hotel portfolio despite economic challenges.
The Radisson Group began its operations in Nigeria in 2011 with the management of Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Since then, the group has expanded its presence to include Radisson Hotel and Radisson Blu Ikeja, Park Inn by Radisson Victoria Island and Park Inn by Radisson Abeokuta, with about five additional properties reportedly in the pipeline across Lagos, Abuja, Benin and Aba.
Uguru said the group’s continued expansion over the past 15 years demonstrated its commitment to Nigeria’s hospitality sector and economy.
He added that Radisson’s contribution goes beyond hotel management, pointing to the establishment of a hospitality academy aimed at helping to bridge the skills gap in Nigeria’s hospitality industry.
“The Radisson Group has shown so much loyalty to the Nigerian economy by continuing to expand the number of bed spaces it is managing even during difficult economic turmoil,” Uguru said.
“As a means of passing knowledge, Radisson Group has opened a hospitality academy to bridge the skills gap in the Nigerian hospitality industry.
“It is for these and other positive services to Nigeria that ANJET is honouring the Radisson Group,” he added.
The 2026 ANJET Conference and Awards is expected to bring together stakeholders across Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality sectors to discuss the future of the industry and recognise individuals and organisations contributing to its growth.
