NIHOTOUR, ABs lead charge over Presidency directive on improving Nigeria’s travel experience

President Bola Tinubu has mandated the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musawa, and her Aviation counterpart, Mr. Festus Keyamo, to work together in improving the travel experience at Nigerian airports through capacity building programmes for personnel facilitated by notable awarding bodies (ABs) in the key sectors.

The follows the Presidency’s identification of aviation
as a foundational pillar in unlocking the potential of the tourism sector, and by extension, the crucial role that air transportation plays in fostering tourism growth and development in the country.

To this end, Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr. Abisoye Fagade, has announced a bold initiative to drive training and certification across the sector in line with the Presidential directive, in collaboration with top certification and awarding bodies in the country.

The latest NIHOTOUR initiative is designed to facilitate economic growth, boost international trade, and significantly improve passenger experiences in Nigeria’s aviation and tourism industries. Industry stakeholders have applauded this strategic move, highlighting the long-recognised synergy between tourism and aviation.

Historically, the global tourism boom was made possible by the advancement of air travel, which enabled long-distance journeys and high passenger volumes. This renewed focus on aviation-tourism integration reaffirms that critical link.

The collaboration between NIHOTOUR and the Nigerian aviation sector is expected to focus on capacity building and skills development, aiming to reduce infractions by airline crew, security staff, and administrative personnel.

According to the institute, the training initiative will extend to major aviation agencies, including: Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT); Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Already, the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, has confirmed the launch of an upskilling and development programme for NCAA personnel and new entrants into the aviation industry.

This proactive step, therefore, sets the stage for deeper collaboration between NCAA, NIHOTOUR, and other key training and certification bodies such as the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN).

A recent report in the national press notes a surge in the number of airlines operating in Nigeria, necessitating a proportional increase in trained personnel to ensure smooth operations. As a result, the training programmes will target key operational areas including; Airport operations; Meteorological data analysis; Airside safety; Firefighting drills and emergency response. Other priority areas will include; sustainable aviation practices, airport management, and leveraging AI and data analytics in aviation.

Meanwhile, FAAN, the nation’s airports manager, is reportedly also investing significantly in human capital, training and certifying thousands of its staff in critical areas such as airside safety and terminal operations.

As an accredited body, the involvement of ITPN and NIHOTOUR in aviation capacity building as key players to elevate workforce development and industry standards in the tourism and aviation industries, as the collaboration reflects a united effort to enhance professionalism, training and capacity building across the tourism and aviation value chains in Nigeria.

Industry experts have opined that the federal government’s goal is to foster a symbiotic relationship where tourism fuels demand for air travel, and aviation enables seamless access to tourism destinations, as according to them, a strong partnership between these sectors will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and increase national productivity.

Industry analysts further underscore the crucial roles of NIHOTOUR and ITPN in raising workforce standards and professionalism across both aviation and tourism. This joint effort is expected to enhance service quality across the entire value chain.

By leveraging NIHOTOUR’s expertise in hospitality and tourism training, and ITPN’s leadership in professional certification, this initiative will cultivate a robust pipeline of skilled professionals ready to meet the dynamic demands of Nigeria’s fast-growing tourism and aviation markets.

Ultimately, stakeholders believe this synergy will drive innovation, encourage knowledge exchange, and support the sustainable development of both sectors—marking a significant step forward in Nigeria’s pursuit of integrated economic growth.

Aviation and tourism remain two critical sectors for national prosperity, and this strategic collaboration aligns perfectly with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.