Wale Ojo-Lanre: We have two boisterous gladiators

"The only thing which is a sore of my heart is the poor performance of the current Minister of Tourism in Nigeria, Mr Edem Duke. He is the worst of them all. He has succeeded in killing the Industry. I am sad".  - Wale Ojo-Lanre (Chief Editor Tribune Tourism)

Personal branding is a leadership requirement; how far would you go in branding yourself for the success of your career and development as a leader? Look, either personal or corporate, branding is a necessity for any developmental posturing. Branding enhances perception , increases level of appreciation and add colour of glamour for sustainable acceptability of a leader.  It is the seasoning value added to ensure  quick  acceptability and perception on a person, an idea, a project and concept . It is about touching up, adding perceptible glamour and touch to whatever just to create an everlasting impression and give permanent seal. I can go any miles, fly across whatever border to achieve this. Branding is the seasoning of an idea. Any idea, person or concept without a modest of branding will be tasteless. And you know a leader without colour will fade easily. I will go to any length positively possible to achieve personal branding. It is non negotiable.

Wale Ojo-Lanre cruising in Amsterdam

You are a successful journalist and promoter of Tourism; what is success to you and how do you go about it? Being a successful journalist is relative and personal. Success to me is not about personal enrichment or the gargantuan wealth accumulated but about my relevance to the nation , my people and community. I am not just in this world to come, eat, dance and make merry. The Lord God created me for a purpose and this I have come to realise through the profession which I am. My mission is not only to create awareness about the tourism potentialities of my country Nigeria but also to see to the effect that these natural tourism wonders are enhanced and developed for the benefit of my people. I am not yet there. But I thank God almighty. I give thank to Mary the mother of my Lord Jesus Christ for the modicum of achievement so far. But I am not yet there. I am not yet a successful tourism journalist basing on the fact that my dear most country Nigeria has not been able to come out strongly at enhancing the multifarious tourism potentialities in the country for the benefit of the country. Sola, I am not a successful tourism journalist when my country still maintain a mono economic revenue stand when tourism is there begging for development. My cry all over the years are not yet taken to cognisance if by now Nigeria is not counted as a Tourism Nation. I don't think I have succeeded so far as I envisaged. However, like I said, the modicum of success has been to the glory of God for instilling  in me the ability to be passionate with whatever I am doing. Passion is it. I am passionate with anything I set my eye or mind on. I love with passion and hate with passion. You may be shocked to know that I personally accountable for  98 per cent of my travelings both locally and Internationally. I don't beg for complimentary  tickets from any Airlines or Travel agents; I sponsor myself. However, I am not losing hope; things are looking up. 

Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant to you? Sola, like I said I am not feeling bad at all. We are now having some responsible tourism inclined people at high places. People who understand the economic wonders of tourism. I am not political here. I am most impressed by the tourism activities of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the Governor of Ondo state who has initiated the Mare Mountain Climbing Festival in order to enhance Idanre as a destination and also developed the Idanre Hill Mountain Resort.  The former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr kayode Fayemi, who salvaged the dead Ikogosi Hot and Cold Spring turning it into a tourist's haven, and Alhaji Rauf Adesola Aregbesola, Governor of Osun state for his culttral tourism revolution in Osun state, Governor Goodswill Akpabio, Awa Ibom  has made Nigeria proud with the 9999 Choir which has entered the Guinness Book of Record also with the Carnival Calabar  and RivCarnival, Rivers State. I am proud to be a factor of development and progress in all these tourism events . I remember during a Ministerial briefing held in Abuja in 2003 , I made a suggestion to the then Minister of Tourism, Mrs Boma Bromillow Jack that Nigeria should have a National Festival apart from the Art and Culture thing . And to God be the glory, a year later, the Abuja Carnival was launched. This must have led to my  being given a National Award by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism during the Commonwealth Tourism Ministers conference held in Abuja. The award read so "This Award is in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of Tourism in Nigeria". The renovation of Mapo Hall in Ibadan is another one which I am happy about. God has used me and still using me to do a lot in calling attention to tourism development in Nigeria.

But in specific matter, my greatest achievement  in recent times  is the development of Olumirin Water fall in Erin Ijesha, State of Osun. Though nobody is giving me any credit now but I am happy that my write up in the Nigerian Tribune newspaper lured the Governor, Ogbeni Aregbesola to order for the immediate development of the wonderful water fall. I visited this waterfall with a colleague Remi Oladoye one afternoon and we counted over 250 tourists  milling and savouring the natural gift which was then in a rustic, dirty and unkempt state. I wept. So I put up a write up which was published in the Nigerian Tribune on wednesday 9th of May 2012 titled "Olumirin Waterfall, Erin-Ijesa, Osun; Despoiled, Neglected and abandoned, yet fantastic". To my surprise, on Thursday 10th of May, the Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola initiated action on the suggestion, summoned the Special Adviseron Tourism and advised him to immediately commence action on it. The Governor commended me publicly during a programme called "With Ogbeni Till dawn". I am working hard on the only Stone in West Africa at Isarun, Ondo State. Also on Ayikunugba Waterfall in Oke-Ila Orangun, State of Osun and the Waterfall with Seven caves in Enugu State.  

If you were given a contract, loved everything about it, and are paid what you asked for; what kind of offer from another institution would make you change your mind? I am not a contractor. I have never asked for a contract or seek any. I don't like conventional ways. I cannot do a thing where my integrity will be doubted. I have been in the Nigerian tribune since 1991, I have never made a claim for my travelling or journeyings. You see, I am so sensitive about insult. You see, people who don't know what you went through would be questioning and doubting your integrity  with green biro. I hate it.  

Looking back into your journey and what you have achieved so far; who and what inspired you? God almighty. Yes everything about Wale Ojo Lanre is God. Nothing more, nothing more. He is my inspiration.  

Your competence in Tourism has won you Awards as MBE Improver Awards and award from the Indonesia Embassy in Nigeria among others; how do you feel with such achievements? I have gotten 45 Awards based on my tourism activities. The Federal Government of Nigeria. The Africa Travel Association, ATA,  Award in Cape Town South Africa, I received the Eastern Mediterranean University Award of Honour, North Cyprus on 9 December 2014, I am also a recipient of the Intercontinental Federation of Tourism Achievers Awards in Paris and many others. The Federal Republic of Indonesia bestowed its Ambassadorial Award on me for my contribution to a better relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia via copious cross-cultural tourism reportage. I cherished them all. They are all stimulants to be steadfast, focused and strive for excellence .

Tell us about a time when things didn't go the way you wanted (like a promotion you wanted and didn't get, or a project that didn't turn out how you had wanted it? I have never prayed for promotion. Being an Editor of a newspaper is never a goal  for me. Hence I focused more on giving my best to Tribune, a newspaper that has given me the latitude to excel. We all cannot become the Editor but all of us can be excellent in our post of duty.  The only thing which is  a sore of my heart is the poor performance of the current Minister of Tourism in Nigeria, Mr Edem Duke. He is the worst of them all. He has succeeded in killing the Industry. I am sad.  

Could you predict Nigeria 2015 election outcome? Though I am not a soothsayer or future gazer but from all indication, unless God takes control, it will be tragic. We have two boisterous gladiators, the PDP and APC. None of them will ever concede to defeat! 

We know that you an international man; where and what is home to you? Sola, I love travelling. But no place like home. Ibadan where I have my family and where I relocated to since 1991 is my place of love. I love to be with my family. I must reveal to you that I write better whenever I am on my chair in my library at home. 

Which animal would you compare yourself with and why? 
I am a DOG. The only difference is that I don't go back to my vomit. But in other aspect I think I am a DOG.

Best Day of the week and why? Monday. My production Day .