NIHOTOUR SETS UP COMMITTEE TO REGULATE PROFESSIONAL BODIES IN HOSPITALITY, TOURISM SECTOR
By Aishat Momoh
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has inaugurated a National Committee on Industry Professional Bodies Recognition and Governance as part of efforts to establish a unified regulatory framework for professional associations in Nigeria's hospitality and tourism industry.
The committee, inaugurated in Abuja by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHOTOUR, Aare Abisoye Fagade, is expected to develop guidelines for the recognition, governance and collaboration of professional bodies operating within the hospitality, tourism, travel and allied sectors.
The move follows the institute's recently concluded stakeholders' conference and forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism, institutional governance and quality assurance in the sector.
Speaking during the inauguration, Fagade said the committee would lay the foundation for a transparent and nationally accepted framework that would strengthen institutions representing hospitality and tourism professionals across the country.
He noted that although numerous professional associations currently exist within the industry, there is a need for an organised governance structure that promotes accountability, ethical conduct, mutual recognition and compliance with global best practices.
"The future of every profession depends not only on the competence of its practitioners but also on the strength of the institutions that represent them. This committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of laying the foundation for a transparent, credible and nationally accepted framework that will guide the recognition and governance of professional bodies within our industry," he said.
According to him, the assignment is consistent with the provisions of the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, which empowers the institute to regulate professional standards, promote capacity development and strengthen institutional frameworks within Nigeria's hospitality and tourism ecosystem.
Fagade explained that the committee has been given three months to submit recommendations covering objective criteria for recognising professional bodies, governance and accountability standards, ethical codes, professional practice guidelines and mechanisms for collaboration with relevant government institutions.
The committee is also expected to recommend measures for resolving overlaps among professional associations, promoting institutional harmony and strengthening investor confidence and the global competitiveness of Nigeria's hospitality and tourism industry.
The NIHOTOUR boss emphasised that the initiative was not designed to limit the activities of existing professional organisations but to establish clear standards that would improve transparency, excellence and public confidence across the sector.
He urged members to approach their assignment with integrity, objectivity and inclusiveness.
"You have been selected because of your experience, integrity and commitment to the industry. Your recommendations must be practical, inclusive, legally sound and capable of strengthening institutions that will outlive individuals," Fagade said.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Professor Wasiu A. Babalola, described the assignment as a national responsibility that would require extensive stakeholder engagement and evidence-based deliberations.
He assured stakeholders that the committee would consult widely with practitioners, operators, investors, regulators, academia and professional associations to ensure that its recommendations reflect both international best practices and Nigeria's unique industry realities.
"Our objective is to produce recommendations that reflect global best practices while responding to Nigeria's unique industry realities. Every legitimate stakeholder has a voice that deserves to be heard because sustainable reforms can only emerge through inclusive dialogue, evidence-based deliberations and consensus-building," he said.
Members of the committee were drawn from Nigeria's six geopolitical zones to ensure broad regional representation and diversity of expertise. They include Dr. Muhammad Nasir Yusuf (North-East), Suleiman A. Ahmad (North-West), Dr. Elizabeth Babagale and Mr. Aniyikaye Adebayo Samuel (North-Central/FCT), Mr. Bashir Abiodun Bello and Ms. Ajibola Olubiyi (South-West), and Mrs. Uloma Egbuona (South-East).
According to NIHOTOUR, the committee's inauguration is part of its broader reform agenda to improve professional standards, strengthen institutional governance and position Nigeria's hospitality and tourism industry for greater global competitiveness.
The institute added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies tourism and hospitality as key drivers of economic diversification, employment generation, investment promotion, cultural preservation and sustainable national development.
The committee is expected to complete stakeholder consultations, benchmark international best practices and submit its report to the Director-General of NIHOTOUR within three months.
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