Culture and Tourism

Kangiwa Takes Over At NIHOTOUR, Pledges To Deliver On Institute’s Mandate

Published

6 years ago

September 2, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The newly appointed Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa has promised to ensure that capacity building required positioning the Nigerian tourism and hospitality sector for better growth of the industry as the preferred revenue-generating sector ahead of oil remains his hallmark as Chief Executive Officer of the Institute.

Alhaji Kangiwa who made the promise at the Institute’s headquarters during a brief ceremony that signaled his assumption of office following his appointment last week by the Federal Government as Director-General of the Institute said the erroneous public’s perception of tourism as a mere leisure activity should be changed for the better as tourism is serious business.

He said however to achieve the desired growth in the tourism industry, a skilled and professional manpower base is needed, which is the primary mandate for which NIHOTOUR was established, noting that he will work assiduously to ensure that the Institute delivers on its core mandate during his tenure.

Kangiwa, then solicited for the support and cooperation of the Management, staff, and students of the Institute to achieve his mission of taking NIHOTOUR to greater heights in hospitality and tourism skill acquisition and manpower training, adding that the support and cooperation will also be required of critical stakeholders of the industry for the good of the sector.

Earlier in his remarks, the outgoing Director Overseeing the Institute, Dr. Momoh A M Kabir, who has been on an acting capacity following the expiration of the tenure of the former Director-General in 2018, congratulated the new Director-General over his appointment and pledged the full support of the Management and staff of the Institute to enable him to achieve greater success during his tenure.

He said while during his short tenure he tried assiduously to record remarkable successes, the Institute is not without some teething challenges but which he believes are not insurmountable by the new Director-General, stating that these include the struggle to get the Bill for the Institute passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President; the dwindling financial fortunes of the Institute due to lean allocation of funds and the need for the Institute to have a befitting office and training accommodation of its own in Abuja, headquarters of the multi-campus Institute.

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

Published

2 weeks 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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