Hospitality Institute Empowers Women And Youths Under Step Project

Nigeria’s National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), has commenced the pilot-phase implementation of training, upskilling and empowerment of indigent youths and women, under the STEP project.

The Institute had a few months ago announced an initiative called Sustainable Tourism Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP).

The management of NIHOTOUR had revealed that the STEP project will stimulate tourism entrepreneurial growth and sustainable development of Nigeria’s tourist host communities.

The STEP project is now being implemented across the six geopolitical zones, starting from December 5th 2022, through the end of the year and the New Year 2023.

The pilot phase of the STEP project is providing fully-funded hands-on training for displaced youths and women in the making of Throw-Pillows and Duvets, being part of the hospitality industry value chain and tradecraft.

A total of one hundred and fifty youths and women were trained and empowered in NIHOTOUR campuses including Enugu, Benin, Lagos, Bauchi, Abuja and Argungu in Kebbi State.

The Director General of NIHOTOUR, Nura Kangiwa, during the STEP training on Throw-pillows and Duvets, held at the head office of the Institute in Abuja explained that the pilot phase of the STEP training programme includes hospitality-trade up-skilling in Soap Making and the sustainability of start-up businesses in the sector.

He assured that the training on Soap Making will be held, in the coming weeks, at the twelve NIHOTOUR Campuses and Training Centres across Nigeria.

The Management of NIHOTOUR, led by the Director General, said that the STEP programme is a novel concept of tourist host community poverty reduction and manpower development.

The STEP project is designed to train, equip and mentor trainees on hands-on skills and entrepreneurial capacities for the successful operation of small startup businesses in Nigeria’s Tourism and Hospitality industry value chain.

Olusola Akintonde