By Jimoh Babatunde

LAGOS, Aug. 3 — The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has reaffirmed its commitment to raising professional standards across Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry, unveiling reforms aimed at improving workforce capacity, industry regulation and global competitiveness.

Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, disclosed this during an interactive session with members of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) in Lagos, where he outlined the institute’s progress in implementing the NIHOTOUR Act.

According to Fagade, one of the institute’s landmark achievements is the creation of Nigeria’s first national register of hospitality and tourism professionals, which he described as a key requirement under the Act and a foundation for building a credible and professionally regulated industry.

He said the register would help distinguish certified practitioners from unqualified operators while enhancing confidence among tourists, investors and employers.

The NIHOTOUR boss also highlighted significant progress in human capital development, revealing that the institute has tripled its annual training capacity from about 1,000 participants to nearly 3,000 and expanded its training footprint from nine states to about 30 states across the country.

Fagade announced that NIHOTOUR is in the final stages of establishing a Tourism Academy to coordinate professional education and certification through accredited private training institutions.

Rather than establish government-owned schools nationwide, he explained, the institute would focus on accrediting qualified institutions to deliver approved hospitality and tourism programmes while maintaining quality assurance and certification.

He added that continuous professional development would become a central pillar of the industry, encouraging employers to invest in regular training to improve service standards and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

Fagade said the institute is also implementing measures to strengthen governance within the hospitality sector through provisions of the NIHOTOUR Act, including professional certification, dispute resolution mechanisms, employee protection and improved standards for hotel management and operations.

He noted that the reforms are intended to build a more structured industry capable of attracting investment, improving visitor experience and creating more career opportunities for qualified Nigerian professionals.

Addressing concerns expressed by some industry stakeholders over aspects of the Act, the Director-General reiterated NIHOTOUR’s commitment to consultation and dialogue, stressing that the institute remains open to constructive engagement.

He disclosed that NIHOTOUR has inaugurated a committee to develop a national framework for the recognition, collaboration and governance of professional associations in the tourism, hospitality and travel sectors, describing the initiative as a platform for wider stakeholder participation.

While acknowledging that stakeholders are free to seek amendments to the NIHOTOUR Act through the National Assembly, Fagade maintained that the institute has a statutory responsibility to implement the existing law until any legislative changes are enacted.

He called on tourism operators, investors, professional bodies and other stakeholders to work together in building a sustainable, professionally driven tourism industry capable of competing with leading destinations across Africa and the world.