The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has been officially inducted as a Fellow of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).
This prestigious recognition highlights her leadership and commitment to transforming Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism landscape.
The conferment took place on Thursday during a landmark event led by Director-General Abisoye Fagade. The occasion marked the official rollout of NIHOTOUR’s nationwide initiative to register, induct, and certify practitioners, operators, and institutions within the tourism and creative economy sectors.
Director-General Fagade noted that the fellowship is reserved for those who show exceptional dedication to improving ethics and professionalism across the industry.
Accepting the honor, Minister Musawa praised NIHOTOUR for the initiative, describing it as a turning point for the industry.
“This marks the beginning of a new era of professionalism, accountability, standardization and global competitiveness for the sector,” she stated.
According to the Minister, this national drive is a strategic move to build a verified database of practitioners, eradicate unqualified “quacks,” and ensure the Nigerian workforce meets international standards.
“The tourism and hospitality industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, contributing to employment, foreign exchange earnings, and cultural diplomacy. Nigeria has the cultural diversity, heritage assets, and creative talent to become a leading tourism hub in Africa and the world. However, no sector can attain sustainable growth without structure, standards and skilled professionals,” Musawa said.
She further explained that the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act has empowered the institute to act as both a training center and a regulatory body for the nation’s travel and hospitality sectors. Musawa called on all industry stakeholders to participate in the registration process, viewing it as a vital investment in the country’s development.
Addressing the new inductees, she urged them to act as ambassadors of excellence, prioritizing integrity and innovation in their service delivery.
Reinforcing the importance of the drive, Director-General Fagade added that the goal is to restore the dignity of the profession.
“Our goal is to ensure that every practitioner in hospitality, tourism, and travel meets internationally recognized standards of competence and ethics,” Fagade concluded.
