FG, NIHOTOUR Move to Professionalise Tourism Sector, Confer Fellowships on Industry Leaders
Kathy Kyari
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry through stronger regulation, professional certification and institutional reforms aimed at boosting global competitiveness and economic growth.
This was the focus of the Sectoral Personnel, Practitioners, Operators and Institutions Registration, Induction, Fellowship Conferment and Inauguration of the Governing Boards of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSCN), organised by National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism in Abuja.
The event, held at Merit House, Maitama, on Thursday, brought together government officials, tourism operators, regulators, hospitality professionals, development partners and industry stakeholders, who described the gathering as a major milestone in the institutional transformation of Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality sector.
The ceremony featured the induction of registered hospitality and tourism professionals, conferment of fellowship honours on distinguished Nigerians, and inauguration of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the initiative was designed to strengthen professionalism, accountability, regulation and standards within the industry.
According to her, sustainable growth in the sector can only be achieved through proper institutional coordination and skilled manpower.
“The tourism and hospitality industry remains one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, contributing significantly to employment generation, foreign exchange earnings, cultural diplomacy and national development. Nigeria possesses extraordinary cultural diversity, heritage assets, creative talent and natural tourism destinations, but to unlock this immense potential, professionalism, accountability, standardisation and competence must remain central to our national strategy,” she stated.
The minister noted that the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act had expanded the institute’s mandate beyond training, positioning it as a regulatory and certification authority for hospitality, tourism and travel practitioners in the country.
She also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, operators, training institutions and development partners to drive sector-wide growth.
In his keynote address, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Abisoye Fagade, described the event as a turning point in the formalisation and institutional strengthening of Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry.
According to him, the induction of practitioners, fellowship conferment and inauguration of the HTSSCN governing boards signalled the beginning of a new era of competence, governance and sector-wide coordination.
“Today, we are not merely gathering for ceremony. We are laying the foundation for a more structured, respected, innovative and globally competitive hospitality and tourism industry. Regulation and standardization are no longer optional; they are economic necessities if Nigeria truly intends to compete globally,” he said.
Dr. Fagade added that NIHOTOUR was repositioning itself as a facilitator and strategic institutional partner focused on workforce development, competency-based certification and sustainable industry growth in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of the governing boards of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria, an employer-led platform established to bridge the gap between workforce competencies and industry expectations.
The council is expected to drive competency standards, accreditation systems, curriculum enhancement, labour market intelligence, workforce development and globally aligned professional certification frameworks for the hospitality and tourism sector.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, said effective regulation remained critical to the sustainable growth of the hospitality and tourism industry.
According to him, globally respected industries are built on enforceable standards, licensing systems and institutional discipline.
He noted that the absence of regulation weakens investor confidence, reduces service quality and limits international competitiveness, adding that NIHOTOUR’s reforms would help reposition the sector for global relevance.
Stakeholders from related agencies also endorsed the reform initiative.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Biodun Ajiboye, highlighted the economic value of culture in driving tourism growth and employment generation.
Similarly, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Olayiwola Awakan, commended NIHOTOUR for promoting competence, ethics and continuous professional development across the tourism value chain.
The Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Bashir Sodangi, also underscored the importance of culture and creativity as strategic economic assets capable of expanding tourism opportunities and strengthening Nigeria’s cultural influence globally.
The event also featured the conferment of fellowship honours on several distinguished Nigerians in recognition of their contributions to tourism development, public service, institutional leadership and national growth.
Among the recipients were Hannatu Musa Musawa, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, Ibrahim Abdulkarim Ozi, Olayiwola Awakan, Biodun Ajiboye, Chris Ona Najomo, Segun Runsewe, Onung Nkereuwem, Folorunsho Coker, Lai Mohammed, Wanie Akinboboye, Nura Sani Kangiwa and Ado Sanusi, among others.
Stakeholders at the event commended NIHOTOUR for its reforms and renewed commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector as a major contributor to economic diversification, job creation and cultural diplomacy.
0 Comments