Uganda Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jennifer Bamuturaki, is among the African women who have bagged the top ‘100 Travel and Tourism Personalities in Africa’ award.

The awards which are intended to recognize exceptional women in the travel and tourism sector were presented on Monday at the ongoing 18th AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ukechi Uko, organiser of AKWAABA, during the awards presentation, said that the awardees had ensured travel and tourism businesses thrive across Africa, against all odds.

He said the women had also shown exemplary leadership qualities in their various offices and were worthy of emulation by upcoming practitioners.

On her part, Bamuturaki appreciated Ikechi Uko, the convener of AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market for recognising her effort in the travel space.

She encouraged more women to aspire for leadership roles in the tourism and travel industries as she acknowledged how difficult the task could be in a male dominated industry.

“I feel so honoured because we are not many women in leadership in the aviation industry. So, to be recognised is a good thing because there are few women in the industry.

“Most of the women in aviation are doing jobs that are operational, so, to be in administration is one thing to tell the young girls that you can rise through operations, flights dispatch and end in leadership where you can see everything from the backside view.

“It is not easy for women because it is a male dominated society , we have more men flying, more men doing dispatch and a fewer women.

“Most women want to go for the easy area which is cabin crew but I want to encourage women to look at the other side which is the administration and leadership areas, it is fulfilling but difficult,” she said.

Bamuturaki, with over 15 years experience in the aviation industry, said that the secret to running a successful airline was to have good managers overseeing various aspects that needed to be monitored.

Meanwhile, other recipients of the award include Dr Memunatu Pratt Sierrra Leone Minister of Tourism, Maimuna Mohammed Corporate Account Manager Heritage Hotels Kenya and Leah Assenga Founder Kitamu Africa Arusha Tanzania.

Dr Keziah Odemba Director of Tourism Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Kenya and Justina Okpanku Thisday Editor, were also among the awardees.

Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam is an experienced Ugandan multimedia Journalist with a background of fact checking and thorough research. He is very passionate about current African affairs particularly Horn of Africa. He...

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