Joel Ajayi

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism NIHOTOUR has advocated the inclusion of tourism hospitality institute in the list of Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFUND among the beneficiaries to enable it access intervention funds for skills training.

The institute stated that if her the request is granted it will not only help the institutes but would help the growth and development of tourism hospitality sector in the country.

Director-General, of NIHOTOUR Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, made this appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the visit of National Board for Technical Education NBTE monitoring and evaluation team, on National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) to the Institute.

Alhaji Kangiwa who was represented by the Director of General Studies and Research Development, Dr Taiwo Famogbiyele appreciated the NBTE for the initiative in introducing the NSQF programme.

According to him, we wish to passionately appeal to the NBTE Management to consider profiling NIHOTOUR in the list of institutions it sends to the TETFUN to enable us access intervention funds for skills training, specialized skills qualification training for our personnel as well as for infrastructural development.

Kangiwa further said that some activities of the council and action plans required immediate attention.

“One of the activities in need of attention is to seek interventions to sponsor the review and upgrade of the NSQ National Occupational Standards.”

The NIHOTOUR boss appreciated the board for its understanding to build the institute’s capacity for the NSQ delivery.

“One of our challenges is that the council needs exposure and study tour to countries where such councils are functional to perfect our operations.

“For NIHOTOUR as a training provider, we are faced with the challenge of expanding training structure, facilities, tools and equipment, as well as trainer expertise upgrade.”

He lamented the poor enrolment into NSQ programmes despite the yearly advertisement and sensitization activities urging parent, guardian and individuals for patronage.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NBTE Ekpenyong E. Ekpenyong who was equally represented at the occasion by the Director Vocational Technical and Skill Development Husani Muhammad said that the essence of the meeting is to monitor and inspects NIHOTOUR activities and see how to improve on it as a service provider.

He said hospitality is the largest employers of labour in the world

While replying the request made by NIHOTOUR DG, Acting Executive Secretary. Ekpenyong commended NIHOTOUR for the institulization of NSQ from inception.

He said: “the only institutions that are enjoying TETFUND are conversational institutions such as colleges of Agriculture, colleges of technologies.

He, however, promised that the NBTE is working round the clock to ensure the barrier is broken to enable all institutions like NIHOTOUR to start enjoying the fund from TETFUND.

Speaking on the visit, NBTE Boss said: “Our arrival here is to monitor, see and inspect the activities of NIHOTOUR and we are proud of you because of your commitment.

“The partnership you have built with NBTE in the training of NSQ Quality Assurance Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance Managers are recommendable.”

In his goodwill message, President Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Alhaji Rabo Saleh, congratulated NIHOTOUR for allowing NBTE carry out an inspection of its work to ensure standards.

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