The Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Folorunsho Coker, has urged staff of the organisation to embrace peace and progress in the work environment as means to bolster productivity.
Coker gave the advice in his valedictory speech during the sendoff ceremony put together by the staff union and senior personnel of the organisation, on Tuesday in Abuja.
He recounted his early days as a staff of the organisation, saying peace is key to fostering individual and organisational growth in the workplace.
According to him, there is the need for staff to embrace peaceful coexistence and support management of the organisation to ensure meaningful progress.
Coker said, “When I assumed office, it was a hostile environment between management and the union. Over the last few years, we have managed to foster peace.
“As I leave, I would like to leave as I have lived with you. I would like to live a legacy of peace for my successor.
“Dialogue like we have been dialoguing with the next DG. The platforms we built are good opportunities for somebody else to come and build on, not just the agency but for Nigeria.”
He described the position of NTDA DG as not all about files or decisions regarding statutory functions, but of welfare of staff.
He said, “NTDA DG is about the people’s welfare. I got involved with peoples personal and private life, whereby if I do not intervene their life could be at risk.
“It is not just about what you can see in terms of files, there are many invincible things one can bring to this job to say I am running the agency as required.”
Coker expressed gratitude to the staff for their support, saying he would not have succeeded without them.
In his remarks, Mr Afolabi Osalusi, who spoke on behalf of staff of the Procurement Department, expressed appreciation to Coker for his dedication and commitment to the wellbeing of the staff.
“Thank you DG for what you have done for us in the department, we also appreciate God for what he used you to do.
“We pray God enables you to do greater works as you depart,” Osalusi prayed.
For her part, Mrs Rachael Edeiki, who spoke on behalf of the Hospitality and Travel Trade (HTT) Department, extolled Coker for having impacted the staff positively.
Meanwhile, Prince Obi, who spoke on behalf of the Marketing Department of the agency, commended Coker’s policies to have contributed to achievements so far recorded by the organisation.
“The DG is a fighter against injustice and also a great achiever,” Obi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Coker, a pioneer director-general of the organisation, assumed office in 2017 and served a two-term tenure which would elapse on March 30, 2025.
During his tenure, he implemented the transformative legal framework that resulted in the transition of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation into NTDA.