The Tourism Editor of the Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Wale Olapade, has been recognised as one of Nigeria’s Top Travel Communicators for the 2025/2026 edition of the Travellers Awards.
Olapade received the award at the ongoing 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM) at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
The award was presented by the High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, His Excellency Walde Natangwe Ndevashiya, alongside the organiser of Akwaaba, Ambassador Ikechi Uko, and the Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke.
The recognition followed a public voting process and was conferred on Olapade in acknowledgement of his sustained contribution to the promotion and development of Nigeria’s travel and tourism industry.
The organisers said the award celebrates his consistent efforts in communicating and promoting tourism destinations, products and experiences to local and international audiences.
The Travellers Awards, instituted in 1996, recognise individuals, organisations and businesses that have distinguished themselves in aviation, travel and tourism and contributed significantly to the growth of the sector in Nigeria and across Africa.
Travellers Magazine, first published in 1993, is regarded as the first travel magazine published in West Africa, while ATQ News, established in 2014, has developed into a prominent travel and tourism news platform in Africa.
The latest honour adds to Olapade’s growing list of industry recognitions. He is also the National Publicity Secretary of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) and has, through the specialised Travelpulse and MICE pages of the Nigerian Tribune, consistently highlighted Nigeria’s tourism potential.
In 2025, he was named Tourism Media Advocate of the Year at the International Tourism Summit in Oyo State, where the award was presented by the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal.
He also received the Outstanding Tourism Advocate Award at the National Tourism Transportation Summit in 2024 and was named Best Tourism Journalist of the Year at the Nigeria Tourism Awards in 2020 during Nigeria Travel Week.
His other recognitions include Best Travel Print Media of the Year and induction into the NANTA Media Hall of Fame by the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies in 2021; the Fatima Garbati Foundation Special Grant for Journalists; the Nigeria Media Merit Award Adamu Mu’azu Prize for Tourism Reporting in 2014; the Travellinks Merit Award in 2013; and the Youth Tourism Club of Nigeria Award for Excellence in 2009.
The latest Travellers Awards recognition further highlights the growing importance of specialised tourism journalism in promoting domestic tourism, destination marketing, investment and the development of Nigeria’s travel economy.
 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. The award was presented by the High Commissioner of Namibia){kind=link}