By Seun Ibiyemi
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 stakeholder collaboration in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.
The committee was inaugurated at NIHOTOUR’s headquarters in Abuja by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Aare Abisoye Fagade, who said the initiative is designed to establish a national framework for the recognition, collaboration and governance of professional bodies operating within the hospitality, tourism, travel and allied sectors.
The inauguration follows the institute’s recently concluded stakeholders’ conference and forms part of its broader reform agenda aimed at enhancing industry standards and institutional capacity.
Speaking at the event, Fagade described the committee as a strategic intervention to improve institutional credibility, promote ethical standards and foster greater cooperation among professional associations in the sector.
According to him, although Nigeria has numerous professional bodies serving different segments of the hospitality and tourism industry, there is a need for a coherent governance framework that promotes accountability, mutual recognition and adherence to international 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.
This committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of laying the foundation for a transparent, credible and nationally accepted framework that will guide the recognition and governance of professional bodies within our industry,” he said.
Fagade noted that the assignment aligns with the provisions of the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act, 2022, which mandates the institute to regulate standards, promote professional development and strengthen institutional capacity across Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism ecosystem.
He said the committee has been given three months to develop objective criteria for the recognition of professional bodies, recommend governance and accountability standards, propose ethical guidelines for professional practice and establish frameworks for collaboration between professional associations and relevant government institutions.
Other responsibilities include identifying areas of overlap among professional organisations, recommending mechanisms to improve coordination and specialisation, and developing strategies to enhance professionalism, investor confidence and the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.
Fagade stressed that the initiative is not intended to restrict the activities of legitimate professional organisations but to establish clear standards that promote excellence, transparency and public confidence.
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He urged members of the committee to discharge their responsibilities with objectivity, inclusiveness and patriotism.
“You have been selected because of your experience, integrity and commitment to the industry. Your recommendations must be practical, inclusive, legally sound and capable of strengthening institutions that will outlive individuals.
This is an opportunity to shape the future governance architecture of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism profession,” he added.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Prof. Wasiu A. Babalola, thanked the management of NIHOTOUR for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged to deliver recommendations that would advance the collective interests of the industry.
Babalola described the assignment as a national responsibility that requires collaboration, fairness and extensive stakeholder engagement.
“This committee represents a unique opportunity for industry stakeholders to collectively shape the future governance framework of our profession. We shall approach this assignment with integrity, fairness and professionalism.
Our objective is to produce recommendations that reflect global best practices while responding to Nigeria’s unique industry realities,” he said.
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He assured stakeholders that the committee would engage widely with practitioners, operators, investors, regulators, academics and professional bodies to ensure that its recommendations reflect broad industry consensus.
The committee comprises 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.
NIHOTOUR said the committee’s inauguration aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies tourism and hospitality as strategic sectors for economic diversification, job creation, investment promotion, cultural preservation and sustainable national development.
The committee is expected to conduct extensive stakeholder consultations, benchmark international best practices and submit its report to the NIHOTOUR Director-General within three months.
