Culture and Tourism

Hospitality, Tourism, Skilled Graduates have brighter prospects- DG NIHOTOUR

Published

5 years ago

September 20, 2021

Joel Ajayi

The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, has stated that all skilled graduates of the Travel Tourism and Hospitality trades, irrespective of level or cadre, have brighter prospects of being self-employed and employable within the industry circle of the country.

Kangiwa stated this when final year students of the Department of Leisure and Tourism Management, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State on an educational tour of the Institute in Abuja paid him a courtesy visit, said the versatile nature of the Travel Tourism and Hospitality business has the capacity and potential to create jobs as well as offer job opportunities to cater for the skill gap existing within the industry.

The Director-General told the students to consider themselves lucky to have made the right choice of studying Travel Tourism and Hospitality trades, adding that none of them will regret making such a decision as jobs will be readily available upon graduation or better still, they have the choice to be self-employed as a business startup.

He said, as the nation’s apex Travel Tourism and Hospitality Skill Acquisition Centre, NIHOTOUR is willing to collaborate with institutions such as the Federal Polytechnic Idah in the enhancement of quality skill acquisition and training that will add value to the growth and development of the industry and in the overall interest of the socio-economic benefit of the country.

In his remarks, the leader of the students’ delegation and Head of Department of Leisure and Tourism Management, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Dr. Ekundayo I. Mejabi said the Department chose to come to NIHOTOUR on the educational visit out of the many options because they believe the Institute has the potential to add enormous value to their quest for knowledge and aspiration to perform better in skill training and acquisition of all the tourism and hospitality trades.

Dr. Mejabi expressed the deepest thanks and gratitude of the students for the honour done in according them a befitting, warm and cordial reception said he looks forward to establishing a mutually beneficial relationship between his Department and the Institute particularly in the area of Hands-on-Training and skill acquisition for the students.

Some of the students who commented on the educational visit said they were happy with the hospitable reception accorded them as well as the knowledge they gained after been conducted round facilities of the Institute by the Heads of Hospitality and Travel Tourism Departments of the Institute, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba and Mr Edward Enenta respectively.

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) will present its roadmap to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion at CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.

Marking its first anniversary on November 5, CAFA will unveil a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, on November 5, 2026.

CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, said the institution works with African governments to align sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property policies, ensuring African creativity generates greater value for African businesses and communities.

Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Honourable Minister Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Minister Musawa said: “Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.”

On employment potential, the minister emphasized that Investment in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth.

Registered in Rwanda, with an office in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards African Union adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming its second participating country and the first in East Africa.

Its first year saw fifty nations gather at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and a signed MoU with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.

CAFA’s programmes promote processing African raw materials into finished apparel locally. ‘Own What We Create’ addresses intellectual property protection, while the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark support standards and authenticity. African Global Fashion Houses are currently being established across international markets.

The African Global Fashion Games will debut in Nigeria in 2028, bringing designers together under national colours. Held every three years, the Games will alternate between African and international hosts, combining competition with investor meetings, deal signings and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event gives competing nations identical materials and a fixed clock, placing skill at the centre of the contest.

CAFA is inviting creatives, fashion designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to its CANEX stand. Visitors can explore the roadmap, ask questions and identify opportunities to contribute through design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships. The stand will be open daily from November 5 to 8.

CAFA calls on the African Union to adopt the Charter, and governments to sign the Games Register and form national teams.

“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” Aare Prof. Lai Labode said.

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