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President Tinubu reaffirmed support for tourism and hospitality reforms during a meeting with NIHOTOUR Director-General Abisoye Fagade.
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NIHOTOUR conferred its Grand Fellow of National Hospitality and Tourism award on the President.
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Discussions covered professional standards, skills development, investment and tourism’s contribution to economic diversification.
October 23, (THEWILL) – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s support for reforms in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector, following a meeting with the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare Abisoye Fagade.
Tinubu received the Grand Fellow of National Hospitality and Tourism (GFNHT), an honour NIHOTOUR describes as the highest in the country’s tourism sector, during the meeting on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The meeting focused on NIHOTOUR’s ongoing reforms, particularly professional standards, skills development and the implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act, 2022, which the institute says is intended to improve service delivery and accountability across the hospitality, travel and tourism industries.
Fagade briefed the President on the reforms and the sector’s potential to attract investment, create jobs and support economic diversification.
He said building a skilled workforce and strengthening professional standards were necessary to translate Nigeria’s tourism potential into economic opportunities.
According to the report, Tinubu pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at developing the industry and strengthening its contribution to the non-oil economy.
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NIHOTOUR said it would continue working with government agencies and private-sector operators to improve professional training and build a more competitive tourism industry.
The engagement comes amid wider discussions within Nigeria’s tourism sector about professional standards, regulatory responsibilities and the implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act, 2022. Industry stakeholders have expressed differing views on aspects of the law and its application.
The President’s meeting with NIHOTOUR’s leadership signals continued engagement with the sector’s reform agenda, although the practical outcomes of the discussions will depend on subsequent implementation.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
