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ATA
Friends in Benin, West Africa
 ATA
BENIN CHAPTER:
Theo
Wilfrid Abediaye (dec.)
Past President, Benin Chapter ATA
Top Tours & Safaris
03 B,P, 3672, Cotonou, Benin
Tel. 229- 311-087, fax 229-31.10.88
The
first tour operator I met during my first visit to Africa
was Theo Abediaye, and our friendship grew over the years,
until his untimely death. A few months before he passed
away, Theo gave us a photo album of early photos taken at
ATA functions and during the many tours he escorted so
professionally. We will feature this material in coming
editions, most especially the Souvenir Yearbook. Theo is the
kind of rare individual one never forgets. Jerry W. Bird,
Editor
J et-Setters
Meet : While
strolling through the Medina in Marrakech, Morocco in
December, 2002, we had the pleasure of a chance meeting with
a familiar friend, Marie-Elyse Gbedo, former Tourism
Minister of Benin. Later that day we visited with her at the
Imperial Borj hotel for an interview session regarding her
visions for West Africa in the coming decade. This meeting
was timely, since Ms. Gbedo was in the Marrakech for the
African Professional Women's Association.
An
excerpt from Panafrican News Agency states the following:
“Gbedo is former minister of trade, handicraft and
tourism. Serving vice-president of Benin's Association of
Women Lawyers, she named "moral integrity, scrupulous
respect for the constitution and the independence of the
judiciary" as pillars of her points for good governance.
Improvement in the economy, agriculture, industry, health,
education, as well as cultural awareness, social justice,
child protection and women's advancement also form part of
her 12-point program she has proposed. ”
Watch
for her comments from our taped interview later in this
section.
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