Creative Industry

FG Reiterates Commitment To Rejuvenates Hospitality, Tourism Industry

Published

5 years ago

November 13, 2020

Joel Ajayi

Federal Government has reiterated its determination towards rejuvenating the Hospitality and Tourism industry in Nigeria, especially at this time when the world is facing the COVID – 19 pandemic to create more job opportunities for Nigerians.

Speaking at the 2020 National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Annual Master Lecture Series with the theme “Sustaining the Gains of Hospitality and Tourism Research in a Changing World” The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Engr. Nebeolisa Anako said tourism remains one of the major drivers of economic prosperity.

Minister highlighted the importance of the tourism and hospitality sectors and urged for collaboration saying that there is no way tourism can thrive in Nigeria without the collaboration of the agencies.

According to him, this event is for us to review the efforts of stakeholders, who have contributed to the growth being experienced in the sector.

“It is an indication of collective commitment and political will needed for sustainable development of socio-economic gains of both sectors.

“Tourism is one key the sector to Mr. President and this administration in terms of programs that will help lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

“This sector had offered a large volume of low skilled jobs and employment, thereby employing a high percentage of women and youths.”

Minister lamented that Nigeria had not taken full advantage of the potential of the industry over the years, stressing that the sector would have contributed increasingly to the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and its economic growth.

Alhaji Mohammed equally expressed confidence in the DG NIHOTOUR to help in rejuvenating the Hospitality and Tourism industry at this time when the world is facing the COVID – 19 pandemic.

However, he commended NIHOTOUR for coming up with such a program that believed would provide a platform for stakeholders and policy-makers in the industry to proffer solutions.

He reiterated the important role of NIHOTOUR in training and producing the manpower requirement of the industry, especially at this point in time.

Also, speaking, the Senate Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism Rochas Anayo Okorocha represented by Hon. Faisal Lawal promised the red chamber will leave no stone unturned to ensure the growth and development of the creative industry.

In his welcome addressed, the Director-General, NIHOTOUR said Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, said the organization’s Annual Master Lectures Series (NAMLS) was a critical component of the institute’s academic activity, which started in 2016.

Kangiwa expressed that the aim of the AMLS is to attract Tourism and Hospitality intellectuals who will provide informative, engaging, and thought-provoking lectures on myriad issues that are germane to the development of the Tourism and Hospitality sector in Nigeria.

“We are in a time of unprecedented crisis, the hospitality, and tourism industry needs to adapt and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs occasioned by this crisis.

“No doubt, the industry had to deal with different crises and viruses earlier.

“However, the magnitude of this present crisis and its devastating effects on operations, employees, and customers is unrivaled compared to previous crises.

“With unprecedented challenges faced by the hospitality industry in the COVID-19 era, it has dealt with the hospitality industry and academia with uncharted challenges.

“It also presented great research opportunities for hospitality scholars, who are now expected to shift their research focus to develop solutions for the industry.”

“The challenges faced by the industry at the present moment provides research opportunities for Hospitality and Tourism scholars to shift their research focus to develop solutions for the industry.”

He urged the participants to make use of the outcome of the gathering to solve the country’s economic problem.

Speaking also, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe said NIHOTOUR was an important organization, with special content in the marketing and promotion of the country’s tourism potential.

According to him, there is no amount of marketing NTDC or this country does without the content from NIHOTOUR that has professional such marketing amount to nothing that is why I said there is a need to support and recognize NIHOTOUR as the training arm of the industry in order to discharge its mandate.

He advised that nobody should be allowed to operate in the industry as a staff or employee without proper certification by the Institute.

“NIHOTOUR should serve as the professional certificate awarded to all personnel in the industry just as the law School is to Lawyers or Legal Practitioners.” He said

Meanwhile, some individuals who distinguished themselves in promoting and contributing to the growth of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry in general and for being supportive of the NIHOTOUR course, in particular, was bestowed with the award of Fellow of the Institute awardees include The Permanent Secretary FMIC, Engr. Nebolisa Anako; Senate Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism, Senator Rochas Anayo Okorocha; Mrs. Patricia Narai Director Domestic Tourism FMIC; Chief Dr. C. C. Ezeudeh, President HOFA, and Alh. Nura Sani Kangiwa, DG NIHOTOUR.

After the opening session technical the session was chaired by Prof. Ghali Sheriff and Dr. Femi Akintunde, all of the University of Abuja, Nigeria where a total of 18 papers were presented at the conference/Zoom session

At the end of the paper presentations, Panelists noted the improvement in NIHOTOUR’s research writing and presentation. Observations were however made on how to improve in future presentations.

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Creative Industry

THANK YOU MOM-Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa

Published

2 days ago

October 29, 2025

The Gleamer

Written by Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa

…Every day I get to celebrate and honor being a mother, and honor my mother. Joining grateful children and mothers around the world to give gratitude and celebrate the special gift of motherhood is a priviledge.

I celebrate the blessing of motherhood every second of the day because it is the ultimate gift. I celebrate being a mother and having the most special mother every moment and want to give a loving shout out to my mother.

Anyone who knows my mother, Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa (nee Yusuf Gurshe Rafindadi), will be aware of what a difficult task it is for me to attempt to find the words to describe her. A role model to all who know and love her, my mother lives her life with great humility. Her selflessness and kindness to others knows no bounds. She is a fantastic person who has been blessed with a great sense of humor, a kind nature, and an unassuming ability to make all those around her feel special and loved.

To have the blessing of being able to call Hajia Ladi, ‘Mom’ and Alhaji Musa ‘Dad’ is, perhaps, the greatest fortune of my life. Continuously, I learn and grow from the pure example set by them.

The energy my Mom pumps into the love and caring she displays to all those around her and beyond is boundless. She continues to be a source of inspiration to so many that she meets by her unselfishness, dedication and Faith in Allah. She unceasingly encourages her children, family, friends, neighbors and associates to work hard at life but always to put Allah first. Her faith cradles her and her loved ones even during the times when life throws curve-balls. The courage she always shows in the face of adversity and her inner strength are truly what great people are made of. She is a true blessing.

My greatest wish for my Mom, as I watch her dedicate her life to encouraging, supporting, educating, protecting, helping, loving, and caring for all those she comes in contact with on a daily basis, is for her to be able to see herself the way the World sees her; which is as a blessing, an incredibly special and amazing person. A woman who is indeed a pure soul with a pure heart, a remarkable role model and a woman with great faith.

Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa is a shining gem and an angel. She has incredibly strong values. If ever there was a portrait of a Godly mother, it is she. I am convinced that anything that is pure and good in me, Allah has planted it in me directly from my Mom and Dad.

My Mom is big on teaching. On a daily basis, she teaches me to live my life, make my decisions and conduct myself as if I am teaching my children and the next generation. One of her favorite quotes to me is one of Ghandi’s. “Hannatu, always be the change you want to see in the world…” she would say. This quote consistently reverberates in my head and sticks with me wherever I go. It is exactly how Mom lives her life.

Some of the greatest values I try to uphold; defending my honor religiously, keeping integrity, trying to do right, caring for the downtrodden, were instilled in me by Mom. Her lessons and example influence every good part of my life and positive thought process.

Mom teaches me the difference between right and wrong and urges me to constantly try to make good choices. She teaches me to be faithful to myself, to my family, to my culture, to my community, to my calling, to people around me, to my identity, to my bloodline, to my Father’s name, to Nigeria and especially to Allah. She encourages me to be more focused and strive and finish things that I start. She always urges me to try as best as I can to keep my word and learn to accept and take correction. And she always worries and counsels me about tempering the fiery temper I inherited from my equally incredible late Dad.

Mom teaches me that the things I should treasure should never be made with human hands. She teaches me that it is through giving that I will be filled and fulfilled. She teaches me that originality feeds the soul and energizes the mind. She teaches me to exercise greater patience and always try to endure. She teaches me the difference between right and wrong. She teaches me not to use my power to hurt others. She teaches me to always strive to give more than I receive. This is an example that she lives with daily. Throughout her life she has always been known to help people, even at her own expense. It is the way she lives, even now. She simply loves being there for others and making their lives easier. It is the times that she helps people that you can see the greatest joy in her eyes.

As a little girl, she often took me and my siblings to orphanages, shelters and hospitals so we could see people who were suffering; so we could develop a desire to help people who are suffering. She made us touch and feed lepers in the days when people shunned them. She worries for everyone more than she worries about herself. She tries to do all she can to fix other people’s problems. Her charity was to everyone she interacted with, anyone who needed her and that was what made people gravitate towards her. That is the kind of woman my Mom is.

For the duration of my life I will dedicate every morsel of who I am, everything I have achieved and all that I have ever done good and right to my Mom and Dad. I thank them deeply for loving me so much and being the brightest light in my life. I thank them for showing me what I should be and teaching me how to be free and how to dream. I thank them for being the ultimate example of forgiveness, compassion, friendship, kindness, strength, generosity, honesty, elegance, beauty, resilience, selflessness, care, hope and love. I thank Mom for telling me she loved me every single day of my life. Even when we were not together, she finds a way of getting the message across to me, even if it was just through her energy.

Mom is my rock, my anchor; my strong, beautiful, vibrant angel; my heart and my precious gift from Allah. I am beyond proud of her and everything she is. From the time I was a little girl, Mom and Dad have always been all I have ever needed in my life. My submission to the Almighty comes first beyond everything else and my dedication to Mom and the memory of my Dad I draw through that faith. I truly have exceptional parents. My siblings and I truly won the loterry as far as parents go! We thank The Almighty with everything that we have for the grace and gift he has given us in the form of parents.

…Every day I get to celebrate and honor being a mother, and honor my mother. Joining grateful children and mothers around the world to give gratitude and celebrate the special gift of motherhood is a priviledge. I want to encourage everyone to celebrate and pray for their Mom every single day whether she is living or passed.

“Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa, I wanted to tell the world about the essence of you, my salute to you so they can celebrate with me on my great blessing of you, so they can celebrate their mothers too. You impact the world around you more than you realize. I love you on your good days and on your bad days. I see your sacrifice and struggle day after day. You are not just a mother, you are a role model and an advocate My heart will always belong to you and I want to say “May Allah always be with you.” May we witness many more days together by Allah’s special grace. I LOVE YOU MOM… I THANK YOU!”

Written by Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa

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