CITIZENS COMPASS-– The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr Abisoye Fagade, has reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to implementing the NIHOTOUR Act, saying the reforms are aimed at professionalising Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry rather than targeting operators.
Speaking during a recent interactive session with members of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism
in Lagos, Fagade said the institute’s ongoing reforms were laying the foundation for a more structured, globally competitive industry built on professional standards, continuous training and effective regulation.
He identified the establishment of Nigeria’s first national register of tourism and hospitality professionals as one of the institute’s most significant achievements since the Act came into force, describing it as a major step towards sanitising the sector.
“Tourism now has a register. Whether we have 76 people on it, or 25 people on it, we have a register. And every other person that is not on that list of registers is a quack,” he said.
According to him, the register fulfils a statutory responsibility placed on the institute by the Act and provides a framework for recognising qualified professionals while strengthening public confidence in the industry.
Fagade also said NIHOTOUR had introduced nationally recognised professional grades and honours to elevate the status of practitioners, noting that the institute was gradually taking its rightful place as the country’s professional regulatory body for hospitality and tourism.
He disclosed that the institute had expanded its training programmes significantly over the past two years, increasing participation from about 1,000 trainees annually to approximately 3,000 people across Nigeria while extending its reach from about nine states to 30 states.
“Our training is going hyper-smooth. We’re able to harmonize all our training, create a new structure, and we are towards the end of creating a tourism academy,” he said.
The Director-General explained that rather than establish government-owned schools across the country, NIHOTOUR planned to accredit private training institutions that met prescribed standards, allowing them to deliver approved hospitality and tourism programmes while the institute focused on regulation and certification.
He added that continuous professional development would become an essential feature of the industry, with employers expected to ensure that workers received regular training to improve service delivery and professional competence.
Fagade said the institute was also strengthening the regulatory framework for the hospitality sector through provisions contained in the Act, including the establishment of a tribunal to handle disputes, protection of employees, oversight of expatriate appointments and the gradual introduction of standards for hotel management and operations.
He explained that future regulations would encourage greater professionalism in senior management appointments within the hospitality industry while ensuring qualified Nigerians had opportunities to occupy leadership positions.
Addressing concerns raised by sections of the industry over implementation of the Act, Fagade maintained that NIHOTOUR remained committed to dialogue and consultation with stakeholders, stressing that the institute had consistently extended invitations for engagement.
“I’m always willing to engage. I’m always willing to have a conversation. I’m a good listener. And all I just need from you is a superior argument. And I’ll go with you,” he said.
He said the institute recently inaugurated a committee to develop a national framework for the recognition, collaboration and governance of professional bodies in the tourism, hospitality and travel sectors, explaining that the committee’s role was purely advisory and designed to gather industry-wide input before making recommendations.
According to him, stakeholders who believe the NIHOTOUR Act requires amendment are entitled to pursue such changes through the legislative process, but emphasised that the institute has a legal obligation to implement the existing law until any amendments are enacted.
Fagade said his vision was to build a tourism industry driven by professionalism, quality service, environmental preservation and internationally recognised standards, noting that stronger institutions, skilled personnel and constructive collaboration between government and the private sector would position Nigeria as a more competitive tourism destination.
He called on tourism practitioners, investors, professional associations and other stakeholders to work collectively in advancing the industry’s long-term growth, insisting that sustained engagement, mutual understanding and adherence to established standards would ultimately benefit businesses, employees and visitors alike.
