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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 strengthen professionalism, institutional governance, and collaboration across Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector.
The committee, inaugurated at NIHOTOUR’s headquarters in Abuja by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Aare Abisoye Fagade, was established following the Institute’s recent stakeholder conference. It has been given a three-month mandate to develop a national framework for the recognition, regulation, and governance of professional bodies operating within the hospitality, tourism, travel, and allied industries.
Chairman of the committee, Professor Wasiu A. Babalola, Esq., will lead the panel in formulating recommendations aimed at improving ethical standards, institutional accountability, professional collaboration, and global competitiveness within the sector.
Speaking at the inauguration, Fagade described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to build stronger institutions and promote internationally acceptable professional standards.
According to him, while numerous professional associations exist within the industry, Nigeria requires a coherent governance framework that encourages professionalism, transparency, mutual recognition, and accountability.
“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,” he said, noting that the committee’s recommendations would lay the foundation for a credible and nationally accepted governance framework.
Fagade explained that the committee’s assignment is in line with the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, which empowers the Institute to regulate standards, promote professional development, and strengthen institutional capacity within Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism ecosystem.
Among its key responsibilities are developing objective criteria for recognising professional bodies, recommending governance and accountability standards, proposing ethical and professional practice guidelines, fostering collaboration with government institutions, resolving areas of overlap among associations, and promoting institutional harmony while preserving the unique roles of professional organisations.
The committee is also expected to recommend strategies for boosting professionalism, investor confidence, and the international competitiveness of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.
Addressing members of the committee, Fagade urged them to carry out their assignment with objectivity, inclusiveness, and patriotism, stressing that their recommendations should be practical, legally sound, and capable of strengthening institutions beyond individual tenures.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chairman Professor Babalola described the assignment as a national responsibility and pledged to deliver recommendations that reflect both global best practices and Nigeria’s unique industry realities.
He assured stakeholders that the committee would embark on extensive consultations with practitioners, operators, academia, investors, regulators, and professional bodies to ensure broad-based participation in the reform process.
“Every legitimate stakeholder has a voice that deserves to be heard. Sustainable reforms can only emerge through inclusive dialogue, evidence-based deliberations, and consensus-building,” he said.
The committee comprises professionals drawn from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including Dr. Muhammad Nasir Yusuf, Suleiman A. Ahmad, Dr. Elizabeth Babagale, Mr. Aniyikaye Adebayo Samuel, Mr. Bashir Abiodun Bello, Ms. Ajibola Olubiyi, and Mrs. Uloma Egbuona.
NIHOTOUR said the committee’s inauguration forms part of its broader reform agenda to strengthen professional standards, improve institutional governance, enhance quality assurance, and position Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry for greater global competitiveness.
The initiative also supports the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies tourism and hospitality as critical sectors for economic diversification, job creation, investment promotion, cultural preservation, and sustainable national development.
The committee is expected to conclude stakeholder consultations, benchmark international best practices, and submit its report to the NIHOTOUR Director General within three months.This version is optimized for publication in mainstream newspapers and business publications, with a stronger news lead, improved flow, tighter paragraphs, and reduced repetition. If you’re publishing on News Diet, I can also provide an SEO headline, meta description, and keyword tags.
