Creative Industry

Kangiwa Braces-Up On NIHOTOUR’s Mandate, Tours Campuses

Published

4 years ago

May 1, 2021

Joel Ajayi

In his efforts at grasping the reality of things on ground with the aim of repositioning the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism NIHOTOUR for better training service delivery in the nation’s hospitality and travel tourism industry, the Director General of the Institute, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa has toured the Institute’s campuses across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The campuses toured so far by Alhaji Kangiwa includes Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Oshogbo, Bauchi, Kaduna and the opening of the newly acquired campus of the Institute in Makurdi, Benue state during which he solicited for the support of staff and students so that the manpower and capacity development needs of the Nigerian travel tourism and hospitality sector would be fulfilled.

Speaking at some of the campuses visited, Kangiwa said the essence of the tour is to have first hand information as well as on the spot assessment needs of the campuses in terms of staff welfare, infrastructural challenges, teaching and learning-aid logistics so that an academic environment will be provided for conducive teaching and learning beneficial to both staff and students.

Kangiwa who noted the varying developmental needs associated with every campus of the Institute, said if the Institute is to deliver on its core mandate, these deficiencies must be appropriately addressed, a task which he further pointed out was why he is at NIHOTOUR to carry out as well as reposition it for better service delivery.

The Director General has since, and to the admiration of staff and students of the Institute, began to address some of the challenges giving community members of the Institute the hope that with Kangiwa’s positively focused and dogged style of administration, better days are ahead for NIHOTOUR to deliver quality vocational training that the Nigerian travel tourism and hospitality industry has been yearning for.

It would be noted that earlier upon his assumption of office, Kangiwa has observed the low morale among staff, infrastructural deficiencies and the use of old model systems of teaching and learning, conditions which he said must be reversed if the Institute is to deliver on its mandate, stressing the need to inject massive infrastructural development, cater for staff welfare and the deployment of digital technology in learning and teaching of travel tourism and hospitality skills.

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Creative Industry

NTDA, ITPN Sign Pact to Enhance Professionalism in Tourism Sector

Published

39 mins 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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