NOA Backs Tourism Sector Reforms,Supports Citizenship Studies in Training

Abuja, Nigeria – In a significant move to elevate Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has pledged full support for ongoing reforms championed by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). This collaboration, solidified during a recent courtesy visit by NIHOTOUR’s Director General, Dr. Abisoye Fadage, to NOA’s Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, underscores a shared vision for transforming tourism into a key driver of national development and positive global perception.

Mallam Issa-Onilu lauded NIHOTOUR’s commitment to reform, recognizing tourism as a powerful tool for projecting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and improving its international image. He emphasized the critical role of national values, robust regulation, and synergistic partnerships in achieving these goals. To facilitate a structured approach, both agencies agreed to establish a joint project team, aiming for seamless implementation of their collaborative initiatives.

A key highlight of the discussions was Issa-Onilu’s strong endorsement for integrating “Citizenship Studies” into hospitality training curricula. This recommendation was warmly received by Dr. Fadage, who stressed the importance of instilling value-based education in the sector. This aligns with broader national efforts to promote patriotism and civic responsibility.

Dr. Fadage elaborated on NIHOTOUR’s innovative decentralized training model, which seeks to empower local investors to establish and manage high-quality training institutions. This approach is designed to not only meet the growing demand for skilled professionals but also to ensure that the curriculum inherently promotes a strong sense of national identity. Dr. Fadage expressed optimism that, with effective reforms, the tourism sector could contribute a substantial 10% to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the next three years. This ambitious target reflects the immense untapped potential within the industry.

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This partnership between NOA and NIHOTOUR is a crucial step towards repositioning Nigeria’s tourism sector. It comes at a time when the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is actively seeking to diversify the economy away from oil dependency, with a strong focus on the creative economy, arts, culture, and tourism. The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, recently announced that revised versions of the National Tourism Policy and the National Policy on Culture are in their final stages of review, aiming to align Nigeria’s frameworks with global best practices.

Furthermore, initiatives such as the “Destination-30” data initiative are underway to provide a data-driven foundation for investment and program design, with projections of creating over 500,000 new jobs in the sector by 2030.
The strengthened collaboration between NOA and NIHOTOUR, alongside ongoing governmental reforms and strategic partnerships, signals a concerted effort to unlock the full economic and soft power potential of Nigeria’s vibrant tourism sector.