Culture and Tourism

Kangiwa Takes Over At NIHOTOUR, Pledges To Deliver On Institute’s Mandate

Published

5 years ago

September 2, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The newly appointed Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa has promised to ensure that capacity building required positioning the Nigerian tourism and hospitality sector for better growth of the industry as the preferred revenue-generating sector ahead of oil remains his hallmark as Chief Executive Officer of the Institute.

Alhaji Kangiwa who made the promise at the Institute’s headquarters during a brief ceremony that signaled his assumption of office following his appointment last week by the Federal Government as Director-General of the Institute said the erroneous public’s perception of tourism as a mere leisure activity should be changed for the better as tourism is serious business.

He said however to achieve the desired growth in the tourism industry, a skilled and professional manpower base is needed, which is the primary mandate for which NIHOTOUR was established, noting that he will work assiduously to ensure that the Institute delivers on its core mandate during his tenure.

Kangiwa, then solicited for the support and cooperation of the Management, staff, and students of the Institute to achieve his mission of taking NIHOTOUR to greater heights in hospitality and tourism skill acquisition and manpower training, adding that the support and cooperation will also be required of critical stakeholders of the industry for the good of the sector.

Earlier in his remarks, the outgoing Director Overseeing the Institute, Dr. Momoh A M Kabir, who has been on an acting capacity following the expiration of the tenure of the former Director-General in 2018, congratulated the new Director-General over his appointment and pledged the full support of the Management and staff of the Institute to enable him to achieve greater success during his tenure.

He said while during his short tenure he tried assiduously to record remarkable successes, the Institute is not without some teething challenges but which he believes are not insurmountable by the new Director-General, stating that these include the struggle to get the Bill for the Institute passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President; the dwindling financial fortunes of the Institute due to lean allocation of funds and the need for the Institute to have a befitting office and training accommodation of its own in Abuja, headquarters of the multi-campus Institute.

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Creative Industry

NTDA, ITPN Sign Pact to Enhance Professionalism in Tourism Sector

Published

8 hours ago

June 6, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

In a strategic move to strengthen professionalism and build capacity within Nigeria’s tourism industry, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has forged a partnership with the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN).

During a courtesy visit to the Authority, the ITPN delegation led by Mrs. Fatimah Obadaki, Chairperson, FCT Chapter emphasized the need for structured collaboration aimed at equipping tourism personnel with industry-relevant skills and enhancing service standards across the sector.

She highlighted that the visit was rooted in the institute’s mission to foster partnerships that promote high standards of service delivery and human capital development in the Nigerian tourism and hospitality sectors.

In his remarks, Dr. Olaleye Taiwo Famogbiyole, FITPN, Registrar of the ITPN, FCT Chapter, emphasized the pressing need to bridge the skill gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements. “The knowledge our graduates bring into the industry is no longer sufficient. We must adopt industry-recognized training programs to align university education with practical industry expectations. As an awarding body within the hospitality, travel, and allied trades ecosystem, we see a vital need to professionalize the sector,” Dr. Famogbiyole stated.

He further called for collaboration with NTDA in training staff in tour operations, tour guiding services and destination management. He proposed that NTDA staff be enrolled as members of the institute and benefit from its tailored training programs.

Dr. Famogbiyole also commended NTDA for its unwavering support of the National Tourism and Transportation Summit (NTTS), one of ITPN’s flagship initiatives. “NTDA has been a consistent and invaluable partner in the success of the NTTS over the years,” he noted.

In response, Mr. Ovie Esewhaye, Director overseeing the Office of the Director General of NTDA, welcomed the ITPN team and praised their resilience and commitment to professionalizing the sector despite prevailing economic challenges.

“At NTDA, we are repositioned for effective performance through strategic collaborations. We are open to partnerships that enhance the capabilities of our workforce. I pledge that all NTDA directors will be enrolled as members of the Institute and we will ensure our staff benefit from the various training programs offered by ITPN,” Mr. Esewhaye assured.

He further revealed that NTDA is undergoing a digital transformation and working towards ISO certifications to improve operational efficiency. “We want to be a benchmark for tourism standards in Africa,” he said.

Mr. Esewhaye reaffirmed NTDA’s commitment to the National Tourism and Transportation Summit and expressed willingness to participate in its upcoming edition. He also accepted ITPN’s invitation to participate in the Abuja Tourism Roundtable scheduled for July 2025, emphasizing, “As long as it has to do with promoting tourism, we will be there.”

The visit marked a significant step in strengthening institutional ties aimed at enhancing professionalism and capacity within Nigeria’s tourism sector.

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