Last weekend,  family, business associates and well-wishers of renowned front liner in the Hospitality sector, Mr. Goodie Ibru, hosted a send forth party in his honour, at the Sheraton Hotels in Ikeja, Lagos.

A seminar, book presentation and a cocktail reception also featured during the ceremony.

Ibru, a holder of the national award of Officer of the Order of Niger (OON), recently stepped down as the founding Chairman of Ikeja Hotels Plc.

The development drew a curtain on his rich career of almost 50 years in the Hospitality sector.

The book, titled: Law, Tourism and Hospitality, edited by Mr. Ibru alongside Dr. John Akintayo of the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Nwudego Chinwuba of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Mr. Lanre Idowu, CEO, Diamond Publications, makes a case for stronger interest in the hospitality and tourism sector to boost the economy and utilise other lucrative areas of growth.

Besides, a lecture, titled: Nigerian Business Climate: Challenges of An Under-Exploited Economy, was delivered by a professor of Law, Labo Popoola, of the Osun State University in Osogbo, with the trio of Dr Remi Oni, Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc; Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Managing Director of CMC Connect and Prof Joe Abugu of the Faculty of Law at UNILAG as discussants.

The occasion also celebrated Mr. Ibru’s delayed 75th birthday. Ibru, lawyer and principal partner at GM IBRU & Co., has several decades of experience as a major player in the hospitality industry, including a distinguished career at the Bar.

The outing was rounded off with a cocktail featuring African Classical Rhythms, Culture and Arts at the same venue.