As the first International Airline to Fly into the South East of Nigeria Ethiopian Airlines was presented with an Award of Excellence at the Oganiru event hed in Enugu last week.
Oganiru is the Enugu state government organised 3 day long investment summit that brought together the best minds and leaders from across Nigeria to discuss and plan for the growth of the economy of Enugu and the south East Nigeria

The Sales and Traffic manager for Ethiopian Airlines Theodros M/Selassie received the award on behalf of Ethiopian Airlines.

The award ceremony rounded up a week long roadshow across the states of the south east embarked upon by Ethiopian Airlines. The road trip which started from Enugu took them to Abakaliki, Awka, Onitsha, Asaba, Owerri and ended in Aba. At each town they visited the markets met with the market leaders and interacted with the agents and the media

Africa’s Leading Airline Ethiopian airline the first International Airline to fly into South Eastern Nigeria stormed the Cities of Enugu, Aba, Onitsha and Owerri to thank the market leaders and others stakeholders who had supported its operations from Enugu. Led by the General Manager Nigeria Mr Solomon Begashaw the team included the sales manager for the Airline Elias Omerenna, local journalists and the Sales and Traffic Manager, Enugu Theodros M/Selassie.
They started their Eastern Roadshow from the Ogbette market in Enugu. The team was received by the executives of the Ogbette Main Market Association OMMTA. In a town hall meeting at the executive council chambers the traders commended Ethiopian Airlines as the airline of choice for most people in the East.

According to the Vice Charman Anthony Nebechukwu Nwodo Easterners are the biggest Travellers in Africa and any airline that wins their heart will thrive. They wanted Ethiopian Airlines to increase frequency of its flight from 3 weekly to a daily schedule. They also asked for a big aircraft like the B777 along with regular cargo flights to bring back all their bags when they travel. They assured the Airline executives that the airline will be supported to succeed in Enugu as they consider ET an organized Airline. The ET team later visited the Kenyatta market in Enugu.

AT Abakaliki they visited the University and interacted with Lecturers and students. The team was received at the Unity Radio station and also visited Agents and the SUBEB board. The visit to Anambra was more eventful as they first visited the biggest traditional ruler in Igbo land The Reverred Obi of Onitsha who received them in his IME OBI. The king conferred the royal blessings of the kingdom on ET and prayed that the Airline will grow and prosper.

The Executive Governor of Anambra state Willie Obiano received the team in Awka along with his cabinet and the leaders of all the markets in Anambra state. He told the Airline team that Ndi Anambra are the biggest travellers in Africa and that anywhere in the world you do not see an Anambra man then you should depart. He asked ET to start a shuttle service between Enugu and Onitsha while imploring them to open an office in Anambra state. He promised the support of the airline by indigenes of Anambra.

The visit to Onitsha Market was like a reception with all market leaders assembled at the traders complex to receive the Airline. The President of all the traders association in
Anambra Chief Okwudili Ewepudike told the team that ET was the airline for the Igbo traders as they are the only airline that had found it necessary to relate with the South East. He promised their support.

The King EZE Ohiri the head of all traditional Rulers in Imo state received the team at Owerri and blessed the airline before the team went into the markets in Owerri. The Owerri visit ended with a dinner party with Gold card members and agents to mark the 70th anniversary of the airline.
The biggest market in West Africa Ariaria market was agog when the team arrived for a parley with the Market leaders.

Earlier the Traditional Ruler of Aba Eze Ikonne had received the team in his palace and gave his royal blessings to the airline.
The road show was rounded off at an agency event held at De la Paix hotel in Aba. Gold members all popped Champagne and celebrated the 70th anniversary with ET.

The tour is part of Ethiopian airline reach out to Nigerian Travelers over the last 3 months. In his response to the receptions acros most cities the GM Nigeria Mr. Solomon Begashaw promised them improvements on service delivery. He told the traders and agents that starting from March Ethiopian airlines charged the same fare from Enugu and Lagos so there is no need traveling by road to Lagos to get a flight out of Nigeria. He also promised new cargo flights to Enugu once they get the necessary approvals from the Nigerian government. Recently the Airline was chosen by the largest travel association in West Africa the 1500 members strong National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents NANTA as the best Airline in Nigeria.

The award was presented to the GM Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria Mr. Solomon Begashaw by the immediate past President of the Association Alhaji Aminu Agoha at its 40th Annual General Meeting which took place at Premier Hotel Ibadan on the 17th of March. Mr. Begashaw while thanking the agents and the travellers that made the award possible promised to further improve on the values that made the Airline stand out. He announced that now Travelers to Ethiopia can now get their TOURIST visas easily through the help of registered tour operators and Travel agents in Nigeria.

This was a reiteration of the message he shared in Kano while addressing Kano based travel Agents at the annual Agency Seminar. Before now all travelers have to visit the Ethiopian Embassy in Abuja to procure a Tourist visa. As the headquarters of African Union Ethiopia is joining the move by AU to simplify travel within Africa by Africans The new arrangement will see selected tour operators and Travel agents assist their passengers in approaching the embassy for Tourist visa. This new arrangement will take away one of the obstacles for tourists to Ethiopia. Ethiopia the land of Queen of Sheba is home to the largest number of UNESCO heritage sites in Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines started its flight to Enugu in 2013 but has been flying to Nigeria since 1960. Today ET flies to Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Enugu. Founded in December 21, 1945 but started operation on April 08, 1946. It operates its Major Hub at Addis Ababa a Second Hub in Togo, Lome and a Third Hub at Lilongwe, Malawi. The Ownership is by Government of Ethiopia (100%) and the Chief Executive Officer is Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam.