The federal government has initiated a plan to revolutionise tourism and hospitality education at Nigerian universities.
The initiative was led by Dr. Abisoye Fagade, Director-General/CEO of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), as both institutions agreed to align university programs with global industry standards.
The NUC said it strongly supports the initiative, emphasising the need for standardised training, certification, and industry relevance in Nigeria’s growing touristry sector.
Both NIHOTOUR and NUC agreed to collaborate on key areas of accreditation and curriculum development, certification and licensing of university graduates, continuous professional development (CPD) and faculty training, research and innovation in hospitality and tourism, strengthening university-industry linkages, policy advocacy and regulation, and the creation of a tourism and hospitality academy at the university.
In a statement, Chronicle NG reports that Fagade reaffirmed NIHOTOUR’s commitment to raising the standards of touristry and hospitality training in Nigeria.“
This collaboration with NUC marks a turning point in how we prepare the next generation of tourism and hospitality professionals. By integrating NIHOTOUR’s industry expertise with university education, we will ensure our graduates are globally competitive, industry-ready, and equipped to drive Nigeria’s touristry sector to greater heights,” he said.
The collaboration between NIHOTOUR and NUC signals a new era for touristry and hospitality education in Nigeria, laying a solid foundation for skills development, innovation, and sustainable industry growth.