Listen to story here
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry for global competitiveness, as the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) conferred fellowships, inducted practitioners and inaugurated the governing boards of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSCN) in Abuja.
The event, held at Merit House, Maitama, on Thursday, brought together government officials, regulators, tourism operators, hospitality investors, cultural institutions and industry stakeholders in what was described as a major step toward strengthening professionalism, regulation and standards in the sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry can only achieve sustainable growth through stronger institutional frameworks, professional standards and collaboration among stakeholders.
She noted that while Nigeria possesses immense cultural heritage, creative talent and tourism assets, unlocking the sector’s economic potential requires accountability, competence and standardisation.
“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,” Musawa said.
According to the Minister, the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act has significantly expanded the Institute’s mandate beyond training to include regulation, certification and standards enforcement for hospitality, tourism and travel practitioners.
She stressed that stronger collaboration between government institutions, private sector players, training institutions and development partners remains critical to achieving sustainable sector growth.
Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHOTOUR, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, described the event as a historic turning point in the formalisation and institutional strengthening of Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
Fagade said the induction of registered professionals, conferment of fellowships and inauguration of the HTSSCN governing boards collectively signal a new era of competence, institutional governance and sector-wide coordination.
“We are laying the foundation for a more structured, respected, innovative and globally competitive hospitality and tourism industry. Regulation and standardisation are no longer optional; they are economic necessities if Nigeria intends to compete globally,” he said.
He added that NIHOTOUR is repositioning itself not merely as a regulator, but as an enabler of workforce development, competency-based certification and sustainable growth in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
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 workforce skill gaps and align competencies with industry demands.
The Council is expected to drive competency standards, curriculum enhancement, accreditation systems, labour market intelligence and globally aligned certification frameworks for the hospitality and tourism sector.
In a strong endorsement of NIHOTOUR’s reform efforts, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, said effective regulation remains essential to unlocking the industry’s full potential.
According to him, globally competitive sectors thrive on enforceable standards, professional licensing and institutional accountability, warning that weak regulation discourages investment and undermines service quality.
Sister agencies also commended NIHOTOUR’s reform agenda.
Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Biodun Ajiboye, highlighted culture as a strategic economic asset capable of driving tourism growth and job creation, while Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Olayiwola Awakan, praised efforts to strengthen competence and ethics across the tourism value chain.
The ceremony also featured the conferment of fellowship honours on distinguished Nigerians, including Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa, NIHOTOUR DG Dr. Abisoye Fagade, former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, former NTDC Director-General Segun Runsewe and several industry leaders, in recognition of their contributions to tourism, culture and national development.
Stakeholders unanimously applauded NIHOTOUR’s reforms, describing them as critical to repositioning tourism and hospitality as key drivers of economic diversification, job creation and cultural diplomacy in Nigeria.
