The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has inaugurated the National Committee on Industry Professional Bodies Recognition and Governance (NCIPBRG) as part of efforts to strengthen professionalism, institutional governance and collaboration across Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.
The inauguration followed NIHOTOUR’s recently concluded stakeholder conference and forms part of the institute’s broader reform agenda aimed at improving professional standards and enhancing the sector’s global competitiveness.
The committee was inaugurated at NIHOTOUR’s headquarters in Abuja by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Aare Abisoye Fagade.
According to NIHOTOUR, the committee has been tasked with developing a national framework for the recognition, collaboration and governance of professional bodies operating within Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, travel and allied sectors.
Speaking during the inauguration, Fagade described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to strengthen institutional credibility, promote ethical standards and encourage greater cooperation among professional organisations.
He noted that although Nigeria has numerous professional associations serving different segments of the industry, there is a need for a unified governance framework that promotes accountability, professionalism and compliance with global best practices.
“The future of every profession depends not only on the competence of its practitioners but also on the strength of the institutions that represent them,” Fagade said.
He added that the committee had been entrusted with establishing a transparent and credible framework that would guide the recognition and governance of professional bodies within the industry.
Fagade explained that the committee’s assignment aligns with NIHOTOUR’s mandate under the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, particularly its responsibility to regulate industry standards, promote professional development and strengthen institutional capacity.
Within the next three months, the committee is expected to develop objective criteria for recognising professional bodies, recommend governance and accountability standards, propose ethical guidelines and identify areas requiring greater coordination among industry associations.
It is also expected to recommend strategies that will strengthen professionalism, improve investor confidence and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global hospitality and tourism market.
Fagade emphasised that the initiative was not intended to restrict legitimate professional organisations but to establish clear standards that encourage excellence, transparency and public trust.
He urged committee members to carry out their assignment with objectivity, inclusiveness and patriotism.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chairman Professor Wasiu A. Babalola expressed appreciation to NIHOTOUR for the confidence reposed in the members.
He pledged the committee’s commitment to delivering practical recommendations that would advance the interests of the hospitality and tourism industry.
Babalola described the assignment as a national responsibility that requires collaboration, objectivity and extensive stakeholder engagement.
He assured stakeholders that the committee would conduct broad consultations with practitioners, operators, investors, regulators, academics and professional associations to ensure its recommendations reflect the needs of the industry.
According to NIHOTOUR, the committee comprises professionals drawn from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, bringing together diverse expertise and regional representation.
Members include 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 institute said the committee’s work aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies tourism and hospitality as key sectors for economic diversification, job creation, investment promotion, cultural preservation and sustainable national development.
The committee is expected to benchmark international best practices, engage industry stakeholders and submit its report to the Director General of NIHOTOUR within three months for consideration and implementation.
