Creative Industry

Knowledge Based Skills, A must For Professional Competence In Hospitality Trades -NIHOTOUR

Published

4 years ago

July 14, 2021

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa has admonished youths to seek for knowledge-based skills to enhance their professional proficiency in hospitality trades while urging youth corps members to consider taking up one of the hospitality trades as an entrepreneur business after their compulsory service year.

Kangiwa who made the call through Ahmed Mohammed Sule, Director Media and Public Relations of the Institute at the opening of a One-Week training program in Dutse for Youth Corps Members serving in Jigawa State, said the training exercise was organized to prepare the Youth Corps Members to be self-employed, self-dependent and self-sustaining after the service year in the face of growing unemployment in the country.

Speaking at the occasion, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Commerce and Tourism, represented by the Director of Tourism in the Ministry, Alhaji M. Ringim said Jigawa State is greatly appreciative of the choice of Jigawa State for the training of members of the National Youths Corps Service in the state for the training meant to prepare them of life after their service year, noting that the state government will give beneficiaries of the training the opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills they acquire to better their lots.

Alhaji Ibrahim Baba, Head of Department of Hospitality of NIHOTOUR and Team Leader of the training program said the selected youth corps members should consider themselves lucky as his Department is fully prepared to impact on them the best of skills, they need in hospitality trades to practice professionally, proficiently and profitably in which ever trade they choose to take up after their service period.

The State Director of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) of Jigawa State who spoke through an official of the State NYSC said Commission will continue to encourage as well as seek for partnership with relevant Institutes such as NIHOTOUR in empowering youth corps members with skills and knowledge that will make them functional and useful members of the society after the completion of the one year mandatory service to their fatherland, calling on the chosen corps members to be attentive in acquiring all the skills needed to practice any hospitality trade of their choice.

Titled Skill Gap Training in Hospitality Trades including Catering, Cookery, Bakery, Confectionaries, Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services As well as Events Planning and Management, the One Week Program is organized by the Hospitality Department of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) for Youth Corps Members serving in Jigawa State holding at the 3-Star Hotel, Dutse, the Jigawa State Capital

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Creative Industry

NTDA, ITPN Sign Pact to Enhance Professionalism in Tourism Sector

Published

1 day 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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