The Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has said that sustainability of growth in the hospitality industry depends heavily on the capacity of human resources from the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism.
NIHOTOUR was established to provide human resources for the nation’s travel tourism and hospitality industry.
According to a statement by NIHOTOUR’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Mr Ahmed Sule, the Vice President made the call at the commissioning of Marriot Hotel in Lagos.
The VP, who reportedly spoke through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, called on stakeholders in the industry to place greater focus and priority attention to building capacity, harnessing indigenous talents and vast tourism potential of their host communities.
Osinbajo extolled the resilience of the hospitality industry in bouncing back after the Coronavirus Disease crisis.
He expressed delight that the industry was taking advantage of technological innovations to adapt to the new normal of providing contact-less services as well as strictly observing the non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 protocols in its operations.
While reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to continuously formulate policies that will provide the enabling environment for the country’s hospitality industry to operate in line with global best practices and compete favourably with other world-class hotels, the professor thanked the proprietor of Marriot Hotel for choosing to invest in Nigeria and “for erecting the magnificent edifice that is the pride of the industry.”
At the event attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, along with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and his counterparts from other states, the Federal Government called on industry players to collaborate with NIHOTOUR for better service, enhanced performance and sustainable operations.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa; and the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mr Folorunsho Coker, among others also honoured the occasion.
