Creative Industry
NIHOTOUR, ITPN Partner For HOTOUR Licensing, Professional Certification Practice In Nigeria
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) have commenced a collaborative process of evolving a Professional Certification and Licensing Practice (PC & LP) guide framework for the certified practice of professionals for the Hospitality, Travel-Tourism (HOTOUR) and related trades in Nigeria.
Director-General of NIHOTOUR Nura Sani Kangiwa, who noted at the official unveiling of programs for the exercise in Abuja said that professional licensing and certification will not only inject sanity in the conduct and operations of personnel in the industry sector but will also offer the practitioners the confidence in the acquisition of prerequisite qualifications that are graded and authenticated through competence test that are verifiable, reliable and acceptable for job placement in the industry.
While applauding that the licensing and certification will be carried out by government recognized bodies of NIHOTOUR and ITPN, with NIHOTOUR as a training provider and coordinator of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skill Council of Nigeria on the one hand, and ITPN as an awarding body on the other, Kangiwa called on stakeholders of both private sector operators and the academia to give the exercise the maximum support and cooperation it required to achieve the desired impact of proper certification and job placement as well as professionalizing the sector.
Earlier in his presentation to unveil programs for the exercise, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, National President of ITPN said that the need to have the professional certification for Hospitality and Tourism practice in Nigeria became imperative in view of the need to place practitioners in the industry on proper job cadres and designations commensurate with the qualifications and certification competency they acquired through professional and skill training as well as certificate of award earned and valid license to practice.
Chief Odusanwo who noted that other professional bodies have identifiable and authenticated approved professional training, certification, and licensing that are recognizable and which are used for grading and job placement in their sectors, said he sees no reason why the Hospitality and Tourism sector which has a very critical role to play in the economy of the country should be different and left out of the right scheme of things
He reeled out some of the mainstream programs and activities to be engaged in the Professional Certification for Hospitality and Tourism Practice in Nigeria to include Certified Tourism Professional (CTP) scheme as a pinnacle performance based recognition program to be awarded when an employee demonstrates mastery of required skills that meets standards of the profession in a practical job setting as well as writing an examination to prove his/her knowledge, culminating into an evaluation of their practical competence in a real-world setting.
The ITPN National President then stated the classes of Awards and designations of the Certified Tourism Professionals to be awarded assets of a class of categories of Course Programmes as well as the official designations that go with such awards after successful completion of the certification requirements which includes, Frontline and job entry occupations- Certified Tourism Professionals (CTP)- an Occupational Knowledge ITPN Certificate; Supervisory positions for managing staff – Certified Tourism Professionals Supervisor (CTPS)- an Occupational Experience ITPN Certificate and Management Occupations- Tourism Certified Professional Manager (CTPM)- an Occupational Management ITPN Certificate.
The Professional Certification and Licensing further place the burden of supervising the National Database of Certified Practitioners (NDCP) on the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism as the Coordinator of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria to keep custody of the information of all certified professionals of the sector in Nigeria; make the database seemingly accessible to all stakeholders in the industry as well as a regular update of records of registered members.
As a way of acquainting prospective students, practitioners and interested members of the public on the prospects of career and job opportunities inherent in the Nigerian Travel-Tourism, Hospitality and related trades, a National Tourism Career and Employment Expo is being put together by both NIHOTOUR and ITPN. With the theme; Harnessing the Versatile Tourism Career and Employment Opportunities in Nigeria, the expo is scheduled to hold from 25th to 26th April 2022 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Creative Industry
CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026
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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