The four persons promoted into leadership positions are Jumoke Akinyele, Gabriel Olonisakin, Ugochukwu Ukaogu and Judith Ezeali.

While Jumoke Akinyele and Gabriel Olonisakin were elevated to the positions of  Business Director and Creative Director respectively,  Judith Ezeali moved up the ladder to the position of Deputy Business Director and Ugochukwu Ukaogu was promoted to the position of Associate IT Director.

Speaking on the promotion, the Chief Executive Officer of Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Lanre Adisa, stated that the elevation is in line with the company’s culture of recognizing high-performing team members while creating the enabling environment for them to develop their skills and collaborating to achieve exceptional performance in their new roles.

Adisa expressed optimism that the promoted staff would bring fresh ideas to reinvigorate the leadership team to record tremendous success in the coming years. He noted that all the elevated team members have put in meaningful years of hard work, loyalty and dedication.

Jumoke Akinyele started her career in the agency in 2010 as a temp/intern and rose to her current role. Until recently, she was the Associate Director and was responsible for managing business processes and cross-functionally working with critical stakeholders and agency teams to solve marketing problems while ensuring profitability for the business.

Jumoke holds a B. A. in English Language from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State and  an MBA from Nexford University, USA.

She is an alumna of the Lagos Business School (Senior Management Programme). An ARCON-certified marketing communications and brand management professional, her industry experience spans several multinational and local brands across various industries and categories, some of which are  Maltina, Airtel, Maggi, Rexona, Minimie, Hacey Initiative, PayAttitude, Fayrouz, Indomie, Paga, SWIFT Networks, Three Crowns Milk, Peak Milk, Travelstart, Hypo, Power Oil, among others.

Similarly, Gabriel Olonisakin joined the company 13 years ago, bringing a unique blend of artistic vision, strategic thinking and leadership prowess into his new role. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in crafting visually stunning and conceptually compelling campaigns that captivate audiences and drive brand success.

A serial award winner, he has won laurels at global and regional advertising festivals, including the Loeries and Epica Awards. He clinched the first-ever creative effectiveness medal at the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival and was recognized for his creativity at the African Cristal Awards.

Judith Ezeali started her career with Brand Communicator magazine in 2008 as an Assistant Editor and Sales Lead before joining 141 worldwide (now Nitro 121).  She left 141 Worldwide as an intern and moved to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited in 2011. In 2014, she joined Noah’s Ark Communications Limited as an Account Executive and rose to become a Deputy Director.

Her work involves business operations, brand management, client servicing and managing the creative processes from start to finish.

Over the years, she has garnered cross-industry experience from working on various brands in diverse categories spanning Telco, FMCG, Insurance, Aviation, Travel, Education, Hospitality and Financial Services.

Ezeali, who holds a B. Sc. in Mass Communication from Olabisi Onabanjo University, is also an alumna of the prestigious Lagos Business School, SMP 80 Class. She is an associate member of ARCON (ARPA) and holds a diploma in digital marketing (DDM) from the Digital Marketing Institute, Ireland.

Ugochukwu Ukaogo is a seasoned professional in IT infrastructure management with a robust experience.

He joined Noah’s Ark as an Assistant Manager and rose to Deputy IT Director before his latest promotion to Associate IT Director.

Before joining Noah’s Ark in 2017, he had worked in different multinational companies, ranging from telecommunications to fast-moving consumer goods.

Travelstart, a leading online travel agency in Africa, has commissioned its Travelstart Nigeria Airport Store.

The travel experience store is located at the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal (MM2), Lagos.

The innovative travel agency also set a new standard in the travel industry with the launch of Africa’s first AI Travel Assistant.

With this cutting-edge AI-powered tool, travellers are going to enjoy personalised travel itineraries, receive destination advice, and discover the most affordable trip and activity options, all within a single seamless platform.

Tavelstart also released the WhatsApp channel phone number: +27823286400 through which travelers can speak to an agent, directly.

Speakers at the event held at MM2 Lagos on Thursday, September 28, 2023, Bukky Akomolafe, the Country Manager, Travelstart (Nigeria), said that Nigeria growing travellers must be supported by a robust customer-centric approach in order to infuse enhanced customer experience in the system.

She said that Travestart is well positioned to provide the foundational support needed for travellers and the agents to help drive the travel and hospitality sector.

Akomolafe said that the new Nigerian airport office and customer centre will allow Travestart to place greater strategic focus on operations within the country, with a strong emphasis on the travel booking.

“We foresee exciting times ahead for Travestart in Africa and Nigeria in particular and will continue to work on developing our local team, improving on our technology and processes, and meeting the changing needs of the Nigerian travelers.”

With reference to the Travelstart AI Assistant, she reiterated that adopting AI tools by tourism and hospitality companies has the potential to revolutionise business operations and redefine customers’ travel experiences dramatically.

She expressed her enthusiasm, thus, “We are thrilled as a travel agency to introduce Africa’s first AI Travel Assistant. At Travelstart, we are always looking to enhance our travellers’ experience, and this revolutionary tool brings a new level of convenience and personalisation to travel planning.

The AI Travel Assistant is a game-changer in the travel industry, leveraging the latest advancements in AI to provide travellers with unparalleled expertise in planning their journeys. With this tool, Travelstart reaffirms its commitment to revolutionising travel experiences across Africa.

Key features of Travelstart AI Travel Assistant include:

• Personalised itineraries: By developing an understanding of each traveller’s preferences, interests, and budget, the AI Travel Assistant generates tailor-made itineraries catering to individual needs. From dreamy beach getaways to bustling city adventures, the AI Travel Assistant curates travel plans that ensure unique and unforgettable experiences.
• Global travel advice: The AI Travel Assistant acts as a knowledgeable travel advisor, offering insights into various destinations worldwide. Users can explore in-depth information about popular tourist attractions, local culture, the climate, local currency, and essential travel tips, enabling them to make informed decisions. It can also provide up-to-date information on travel requirements, like visas.
• Budget-friendly recommendations: Travelstart’s AI-powered assistant goes the extra mile by suggesting the most budget-friendly options for flights, accommodations, and activities. By analysing vast amounts of data and historical travel trends, the tool uncovers the best times to travel for unbeatable deals.

The AI Travel Assistant is available to all users on Travelstart’s website who can now harness the power of cutting-edge AI technology.

Yinka Folami, the Vice President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), congratulated Travestart for the step taken towards enhancing their service offerings and the customer support.

The NANTA VP called on other agencies to emulate the Travelstart’s innovative prowess.

The store launch attracted dignitaries within and outside the travel industry including Olubankole Wellington (Banky W), the celebrity guest;  Mr. Kolawole Bamigboye – Bi- Courtney (Head of space and Premises); Eka Obaigbena – CEO of Toasties and host of others.