The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a globally competitive hospitality, travel and tourism industry through stronger regulation, professional certification and institutional collaboration.
This formed 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 the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism in Abuja.
The event, held at Merit House, Maitama, brought together government officials, regulators, tourism operators, development partners, hospitality professionals and cultural institutions to advance the professionalisation of Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality sector.
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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 HTSSCN.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, described the initiative as a major step towards strengthening professionalism, accountability, regulation and global competitiveness in the sector.
She said sustainable growth in tourism and hospitality could only be achieved through strong institutions, standardisation and skilled professionals.
“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,” she stressed.
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The minister noted that the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act had expanded the institute’s mandate beyond training, positioning it as a regulatory and standards authority for hospitality, tourism and travel practitioners in Nigeria.
According to her, stronger collaboration among government institutions, private sector operators, training institutions and development partners remained critical to unlocking the sector’s economic potential.
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 historic turning point for Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry.
He said the induction of practitioners, fellowship conferment and inauguration of the HTSSCN governing boards marked a new era of competence, institutional governance and professional recognition.
“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,” he stated.
Dr Fagade added that NIHOTOUR was repositioning itself as a facilitator and strategic institutional partner focused on workforce development, competency-based certification and sustainable sector growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The newly inaugurated HTSSCN is expected to drive competency standards, curriculum enhancement, accreditation systems, labour market intelligence and globally aligned certification frameworks for the tourism and hospitality sector.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, said effective regulation remained essential for improving service quality, investor confidence and international competitiveness within the industry.
Other stakeholders, including the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Biodun Ajiboye, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Olayiwola Awakan, commended NIHOTOUR’s reforms and commitment to raising professional standards across the tourism value chain.
The event also featured the conferment of fellowship honours on several distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to tourism development, public service, institutional leadership and cultural advancement.
Stakeholders at the ceremony commended NIHOTOUR’s reform agenda, describing it as a major step towards repositioning tourism and hospitality as key drivers of economic diversification, job creation and sustainable national development in Nigeria.
