NIHOTOUR Begins Governance Standards Programme to Improve Industry Practices

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has inaugurated a National Committee on Industry Professional Bodies Recognition and Governance (NCIPBRG) to develop a framework for the recognition and regulation of professional bodies in the hospitality, tourism, travel and allied sectors in Nigeria.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHOTOUR, Aare Abisoye Fagade inaugurated the committee at the institute’s headquarters in Abuja and charged members to submit their recommendations within three months.

Fagade said the initiative was in the wake of the institute’s recent stakeholders’ conference, and is part of efforts to enhance professionalism, institutional governance and collaboration across the tourism and hospitality industry.

He said while there are several professional associations operating within the sector, there is the need for a unified governance framework to foster accountability, ethical standards, mutual recognition and compliance with global best practices.

“The future of every profession will depend not only on the skill of the practitioners but on the strength of the institutions that represent them.

“This committee has been mandated to establish the foundation for a transparent, credible and nationally accepted framework to regulate the recognition and governance of professional bodies within our industry,” he said.

According to Fagade, the committee’s assignment is in line with the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, which requires the institute to regulate standards, promote professional development and strengthen institutional capacity within the hospitality and tourism sector.

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He said the committee would work out criteria for the recognition of professional bodies, recommend standards of governance and accountability, suggest ethical guidelines, improve co-ordination among industry associations and recommend strategies to enhance professionalism, investor confidence and global competitiveness.

The NIHOTOUR boss emphasized that the initiative was not intended to restrict legitimate professional organizations but to set standards that would boost transparency, excellence and public trust.

In his response on behalf of the committee, the Chairman, Professor Wasiu A. Babalola, Esq. expressed gratitude to the management of NIHOTOUR for the confidence reposed in the members and promised to come up with practical recommendations that would advance the collective interest of the industry.

He said the assignment was a national responsibility that required collaboration, objectivity and broad stakeholder engagement.

“This is a rare chance for industry stakeholders to work together to help shape the future of our profession’s governance framework.

We shall approach this task with integrity, fairness and professionalism. “Our goal is to make recommendations that align with global best practices and address Nigeria’s peculiar industry realities,” Babalola said.

The committee has professionals drawn from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including Dr Muhammad Nasir Yusuf, Suleiman A. Ahmad, Dr Elizabeth Babagale, Mr Aniyikaye Adebayo Samuel, Mr Bashir Abiodun Bello, Ms Ajibola Olubiyi and Mrs Uloma Egbuona.

The committee is expected to submit its report to the Director-General within three months.