Culture and Tourism

NIHOTOUR In Public-Private Partnership To Strengthen Its IATA Training Capacity

Published

5 years ago

March 2, 2021

Joel Ajayi

In the efforts to strengthen its training capacity in International Air Transport Association (IATA) certification for personnel in the Nigerian Travel Tourism industry, the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), has engaged the services of a private IATA Authorized Training Centre consultancy firm, Empire Travel Services Limited for collaboration.

Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, Director General of the Institute who disclosed this during the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the partnership said if the Institute must up it game as a center of excellence in training, partnership to achieve high-quality service delivery is highly desirous

In a statement issued by the Director, Media & Public Relations Ahmed Mohammed Sule stated that the partnership will further improve on student enrolment, continued professional development for training and capacity building, facilitate interaction between the Institute and the IATA awarding body in Montreal, Canada among other benefits.

Managing Director of Empire Travel Services Limited, Alhaji Ahmed Ojuolape said the partnership will provide efficient and quality service delivery on the part of the Institute to deliver on its core mandate of personnel training in Travel Tourism and Hospitality tapping from the immense in industry experience of the private sector.

Alhaji Ojuolape said his firm is resolutely committed to ensuring that the partnership between the Institute and his firm yields the desired positive results to prove the efficacy and efficiency of a public-private partnership that the present administration yearns for to deliver good services for the benefits of the people.

With this collaborative partnership, NIHOTOUR is once again poised to comfortably maintain the enviable position it has occupied for some years now as the top IATA/UFTAA Training Centre in the entire African continent in fulfillment of the vision and mission of the present Director General, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa.

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Creative Industry

Musawa Highlights Art and Culture as Drivers of Public Sector Excellence at Legislative Mentorship Session

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., has emphasized the importance of integrating art and culture into public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the SA Media & Publicity, Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Phd.

Musawa made this known while addressing trainees at the 4th Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), held at the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja on Thursday.

Themed ‘Building the next generation of Public Sector Leaders’, Minister Musawa highlighted art and culture as essential tools for national cohesion and identity, economic development and job creation, innovation and civic engagement, sustainable development, and projecting Nigeria’s soft power and global identity.

She noted that Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage is a unifying force that binds different ethnicities and elaborated on how Art and Culture is key to public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

“First, embracing and promoting art and culture helps to forge national cohesion and shared identity among Nigeria’s diverse populations. Integrating culture into public policy and governance transforms the creative and cultural sectors into engines of economic development, job creation and diversification. Cultural industries including crafts, music, film, design, heritage tourism can generate livelihoods, attract investment, expand exports, and reduce overreliance on a narrow set of economic activities.

“A society that values creativity and cultural expression tends to produce more resourceful citizens, fosters cross-cultural dialogue, and encourages public servants to be more adaptive, empathetic, and culturally aware while prioritizing culture and creative economy in public policy through frameworks, institutions, and infrastructure, demonstrates long-term vision and commitment to sustainable development,” Musawa said.

The Minister called for supportive policies, enabling legislation, and sustained commitment to fulfill this vision, including laws that protect intellectual property, incentivize investment in creative infrastructure, and integrate arts and culture into education and community development.

“Embedding art and culture at the heart of governance and public-sector planning is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It builds unity, drives economic growth, fosters innovation, strengthens institutions, and ensures that development respects and reflects the soul of the nation,” she emphasized.

Musawa thanked the founder of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his inspiring vision and unwavering commitment to cultivating Nigeria’s future public-service leaders.

Other speakers at the Legislative Mentorship Initiative include the Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization Aisha Augie, Nigerian photo-journalist and documentary photographer Bayo Omoboriowo, Amb. Dapo Oyewole, Secretary-General Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures amongst others.

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