The Nigerian tourism industry has lost one of the leading industry voices, Mr. Victor Olarenwaju Kolade. He was the President of the Nigerian Hotel and Catering Institute (NHCI) and a council member of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN). The late Kayode was, until his death, also the Group General Manager of Etal Concepts Limited, owners of Etal Hotel Group. He died on April 7, 2026.
The late Kayode was a thoroughbred professional in the hospitality industry, with over 40 years both in multinationals and Nigeria brand hotel organizations.
A native of Ondo State, Kayode was among the Nigerians that started their professional journey with Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers, as one of pioneering staff. Having cut his teeth the international ho-tel brand and rose through the ranks, he moved on to have a stint with other hotel groups, managing hotels such as the indigenous Nigerian Hotels Limited (Owners of former Ikoyi Hotel, Kano Central Hotel, Jos Hill Station Hotel Jos, Bristol Hotel, Lagos, and Managers of many state owned Hotels) before it was privatized.
He was at a time the Head, Human Re-sources at the Novotel FESTAC (Now Gold-en Tulip), and later joined the Pearl Court and Apartments, Ikoyi, Lagos.
