FATIMA GARBATI GOES HOME LEAVING MANY WITH KIND WORDS FOR HER

Late Fatima Garbati

 When Fatima Garbati died last week, good memories poured freely in tears! Fati Garbati was that strong-willed woman who lived and cut the mother figure image. She went about her business in such a way, not just to survive, but to win souls to her tourism dreams and expectations. “Indeed the Nigerian society scene has lost a dear one.” said Chief Mrs. Dupe Jemibewon, “she was also my boss at the defunct Nigerian Airways.”

Chief Mrs Dupe Jemibewon

Nigerian Tourism expert Ikechi Uko said of Fatima Garbati, “she had decades of experience in the tourism and aviation industry. She was a contributor to the bedrock of legislations and enacted rules that have impacted positively to the sustainability of tourism legislation in Nigeria and Africa.”

Garbati was a founding member of Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP 1993), and a past president of the association, she contributed to the creation of the Calabar Christmas carnival. She also had a stint at Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, where she championed consumers issues on tourism.

She represented Nigeria internationally on several platform, also as Chairperson of IATA investigating panel for 10 (ten) years, representing English speaking west Africa as well as representing Nigeria at the ‘Yamoussoukro Decision’ meetings until 1995.

‘Madam Tourism’ as some called her, was buried last weekend in Lagos according to Muslim rites.