President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged continued support for reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry, following a meeting with the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare Abisoye Fagade.
The meeting, held in Abuja on October 22, 2026, focused on ongoing efforts to improve professional standards, develop industry skills and implement the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 to enhance service delivery, accountability and competitiveness across the tourism and hospitality sector.
During the engagement, Fagade presented Tinubu with the Grand Fellow of National Hospitality and Tourism (GFNHT), described by NIHOTOUR as the highest singular honour in Nigeria’s tourism sector.
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The President’s pledge of continued support highlights the growing importance of tourism in Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts, particularly in job creation, investment attraction and enterprise development.
Speaking on the significance of the meeting, Fagade said tourism should be viewed beyond leisure and recreation, stressing its potential to create employment opportunities, support businesses and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
He explained that NIHOTOUR’s ongoing reforms are designed to improve professional competence, strengthen industry standards and establish a credible regulatory environment that encourages investment and allows tourism-related businesses to thrive.
“Our responsibility is to build the professional and institutional foundations that will enable Nigeria’s tourism potential to translate into jobs, investment and sustainable economic growth. The President’s continued support is important to advancing these reforms and positioning the sector for greater national impact,” Fagade said.
The reforms align with the objectives of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic diversification, employment generation and the expansion of productive sectors outside the oil industry.
Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry has the potential to contribute significantly to national development through cultural tourism, hospitality services, travel, entertainment and other tourism-related businesses. However, improving professional training, service quality and regulatory standards remains important to strengthening the sector’s competitiveness.
NIHOTOUR reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with government institutions and private-sector stakeholders to build a more professional, competitive and globally recognised tourism industry capable of delivering sustainable economic benefits to Nigerians.
The institute said the continued partnership between the government and industry stakeholders would be essential to unlocking the sector’s potential and positioning Nigeria as a stronger destination for tourism and hospitality investment.
