Culture and Tourism

Kangiwa Pledges Support To Hofa On Capacity Building For Hospitality Personnel

Published

6 years ago

March 10, 2021

Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, has promised to make available skill acquisition and training programs for personnel staff of members of Hotel Owners Forum of Abuja (HOFA) so as to up their game in quality service delivery in their respective hotels.

Alhaji Kangiwa who made the pledge when the newly elected officials of HOFA led by its President, Barr. Mrs. Funmi Kazeem paid him a courtesy visit in the Abuja headquarters of the Institute on Wednesday said big beautiful structures don’t make a hotel a hospitable abode unless the quality of services of the personnel are of high standard and amiable to customers.

He said the desired standard and high-quality service delivery in hospitality business can only be achieved if personnel running the hotels have the needed skills for effective running and operations of such hotels, adding that this is where training and re-training become germane if the country is to meet the global best practices and requirements in hospitality operations and management.

The Director General who said the doors of the Institute are open to offer high quality skill acquisition and training programs to HOFA staff as part of its core mandate in the development of the Hospitality and travel-tourism industry of Nigeria, also called on HOFA members to key into the soon to be launched campaign of #SayNoToDirtyKitchen as part of the Institute’s drive for a clean and healthy environment of eatery centres in the country.

While congratulating and wishing the newly elected officials a successful tenure in office, he offered to assist HOFA with an office desk officer within the Institute to address urgent needs of the Association in relation to their day-to-day operations.

Earlier in her address, Barr. Mrs. Funmi Kazeem said she and members of her executive council chose to pay the Director General the courtesy visit because of the existing cordial relationship between the Association and the Institute and the need to further strengthen the relationship for the good of the hospitality industry.

Mrs. Kazeem said with the new trend of high tech and innovative practices in the global hospitality trades and business, the Association is desirous of training its staff now more than ever before in order to meet up with world class requirements and best practices.

She solicited for all available assistance that NIHOTOUR can offer members of the Association so as to achieve a prosperous hospitality business environment in Abuja in particular and the country at large.

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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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