Creative Industry

NIHOTOUR Seeks Partnership With NAHCO To Train Personnel On Hajj Operations

Published

6 years ago

November 13, 2020

The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Kangiwa has reiterated the importance of professional competence and certification in the effective handling of Hajj operations for Nigerian pilgrims as one of the conditional requirements by Authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Alhaji Kangiwa who made the disclosure when he visited the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan in his office said this has necessitated the Institute to call for collaboration and partnership between NIHOTOUR and NAHCON so as to achieve the level of training, competence and professional certification of officials of the Hajj agency and all its partners involved in the handling of Hajj operations from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.

He said since its establishment over three decades ago, NIHOTOUR has trained over 10,000 certified IATA personnel in the nation’s Travel and Tourism industry and attained the best IATA training center in Africa and among the top ten best IATA training centers globally, noting that with this track record of excellence NIHOTOUR is prepared to bring its vast material and manpower resources to bear in training and re-training of the manpower needs of the Hajj Commission.

In his response, Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan Chairman/CEO National Hajj Commission of Nigeria said NAHCON has all along been aware of the requirements by the Saudi authorities on professionalism, competence, and IATA certification of officials and personnel handling Hajj operations into the Holy land, adding that the Commission gladly welcomes NIHOTOUR’s proposal to offer training for its staff and personnel.

Alhaji Hassan noted that the World is changing with the professionalization of every aspect of activities of our lives and the Hajj operation is not an exception, stressing that NIHOTOUR’s approach of the Commission to offer its training services couldn’t have come at a better time than now, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which requires a high level of professional conduct in the handling of future Hajj operations.

Present during the courtesy visit by the NIHOTOUR Director-General was Management staff from both the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria

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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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