By Jimoh Babatunde

Since President Bola Tinubu appointed Aare Abisoye Fagade as the Director General of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism,(NIHOTOUR), the man has hit the ground running as he plan transforming the training institute to a regulatory authority.

To kick start his mission at the institute, Fagade came up with the registration of personel in the hospitality sector of the tourism industry, which he said was to bring standardisation and professionalism to the industry.

“The only way to bring sanity and standardisation to the sector is to standardise the structure of the tourism management and hospitality,” he explained.

“What do I mean by that? We can capture people who work in our industry, and train them properly to deliver world-class experience. Whoever is paying for a service, should have a standard experience, and if you are not trained to do that, you won’t be able to deliver. You cannot give what you don’t have.”

“We’re trying to empower the industry to be able to deliver a world-class experience for their customers,” he continued, “and by doing so, raise the standard of hospitality and tourism in Nigeria, awaken the awareness of the people that work in the industry that they represent this country, and it’s important for them to know what they are doing, tutor them into the right direction and give them certification. There’s this feeling that you get when you are satisfied. You can say that I’ve been trained, I know what I’m doing. And also, there’s a place people can always report to when the services are not acceptable.”

Fagade , who is no stranger to the hospitality and tourism sector, having consulted for some state governments and also having investment in boutique hotels , noted that the initiative is aimed at building a database to help streamline the institute’s activities.He expressed confidence in his staff stating that they are willing to work but just need to be motivated.

“My immediate stakeholders are my staff and I told them the first day I resumed that I’m here to motivate them to give their best.”And that he has been doing with a New Year Message to all staff appreciating their commitment and dedication to the growth of the industry.

“I want to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude for your dedication and commitment to the growth of the hospitality and tourism sector in Nigeria. Together, we have an incredible opportunity to make this year a turning point in our collective journey towards excellence.”

He used the opportunity to share his vision and key objectives for the institute this year., saying “This year, we will enhance the quality and accessibility of our training programs to equip professionals with globally competitive skills.

“Through partnerships with international organizations, we aim to introduce cutting-edge practices and certifications that set new industry standards.”

He added “we will focus on positioning NIHOTOUR as a leader in shaping policies and practices that enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness. By promoting Nigerian culture and heritage as central themes in our programs, we will support the nation’s unique identity in global tourism.”

Fagade added that sustainability will be at the heart of their work in 2025.

“We will champion eco-friendly and sustainable tourism initiatives to preserve our nation’s cultural and natural heritage, while embedding sustainability principles into all our training programs.”

The Director-General disclosed that the institute will expand its reach and accessibility, “ accessibility to quality education is paramount. We will work to establish more training centers across Nigeria, especially in underserved regions, and leverage digital platforms to offer online courses and training programs.

While urging the staff to bring their passion and innovation to play, Fagade said “ We will prioritize building stronger alliances with government agencies, private sector operators, and international bodies. Together, we will address industry challenges and seize opportunities to elevate Nigeria’s tourism sector.”

True to his promise, he has embarked on a series of high-level courtesy visits to key government agencies to foster collaboration, enhance industry standards, and strengthen NIHOTOUR’s regulatory framework for the hospitality, travel, and tourism sector.

So far, Fagade has met with top officials of sister agencies like the Folarin Coker, Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Authority; Mr. Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS); Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); and Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).