The long-standing partnership between the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and British Airways received a major boost on
The long-standing partnership between the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and British Airways received a major boost on Wednesday, 14th October, 2026, as the national executive of NANTA paid a courtesy visit to the newly opened Country Office of British Airways in Lagos.
The delegation was led by Yinka Folami, NANTA National President, in company with other members of the National Executive Council.
The visit was to congratulate the airline on its new strategic office and explore fresh areas of collaboration for the growth of the travel trade in Nigeria.
The team was warmly received by Adetutu Otuyalo, the airline’s Regional Commercial Manager for West Africa, alongside other top management staff.
Speaking during the visit, Folami commended British Airways for its decades of resilience, professionalism, and unwavering confidence in the Nigerian market. He described the move to the new country office as self-renewing and strategic.
“British Airways is not just an airline in Nigeria; it is an institution that has become part of our aviation history. For over 50 years of NANTA’s existence, BA has been a dependable partner. Your new office is proof that you are here for the long haul, and NANTA is proud to be associated with this commitment,” Folami stated.
He briefed the BA management on a flagship project of his administration – the *NANTA Training Institute*, aimed at professionalising travel agency practice, bridging knowledge gaps, and producing the next generation of globally competitive travel professionals.
According to him, the Institute is designed to drive Nigerian travel professionals towards becoming certified Global Travel Ambassadors.
In her response, Otuyalo expressed appreciation to NANTA for the solidarity visit and continuous support. She noted that travel agents remain the backbone of British Airways’ commercial success in Nigeria and West Africa.
“We at British Airways believe that investment in people is the best investment. The standard of your profession determines the quality of experience our mutual customers get. On behalf of British Airways, I want to assure you of our full professional support for the NANTA Training Institute,” she pledged.
According to her, the airline will support the Institute in areas of professional training, product knowledge, global distribution best practices, customer service excellence, and exposure to evolving airline technologies.
She added that British Airways will work out a structured training program with NANTA to ensure members are constantly updated and globally competitive.
The visit ended with an inspection tour of the new British Airways Country Office, with both parties reaffirming commitment to a stronger, mutually beneficial relationship.
The NANTA-British Airways relationship, spanning over five decades, remains one of the most enduring airline-trade partnerships in Nigerian aviation.
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Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.