The Enugu State Government has joined forces with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, to kickstart a three-day training program for the Enugu State Tourism Board and hotel staff. This joint effort aims to elevate sustainable tourism development and enhance hospitality operations and practices within the state.
Dame Rita Mbah, the Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Tourism Board, emphasized the pivotal role of tourism in the administration’s commitment to elevate the state’s economy from its current $4.4 billion to an ambitious $30 billion. The objective behind the training is to equip the staff of the State Tourism Board and hotel workers with essential skills and best practices to ensure efficient and high-quality service delivery.
Highlighting the significance of tourism as a major contributor to global employment and economies, Dame Mbah underlined the urgency to empower the hospitality sector with the best practices in the tourism industry. She expressed Governor Peter Mbah’s unwavering determination to catalyze the transformation of Enugu’s economy and extend his full support to reposition the state’s tourism and hospitality sector to significantly impact the envisioned GDP.
Appreciating the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism’s decision to approve the training for Enugu’s tourism sector, Dame Mbah conveyed her gratitude to the institute’s leadership for their support.
Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, lauded Governor Mbah’s steadfast commitment to capacity building within the state’s tourism and hospitality industry. Kangiwa assured that the training program is finely tuned to address the evolving needs of the industry and bridge the unemployment gap in Nigeria. He emphasized the rapid recovery and continued potential of travel and tourism to drive wealth and employment creation in the global economy.
Quoting the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s report revealing over 2.6 million people employed in various segments of Travel and Tourism in Nigeria in 2020, Kangiwa affirmed the sector’s potential to revitalize and diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond its reliance on crude oil.
Emphasizing NIHOTOUR’s unwavering commitment, Kangiwa, represented by NIHOTOUR’s Director of Tourism, Edwin Enenta, reassured the Enugu State Government of sustained collaboration in advancing the state’s tourism and hospitality sector.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Baba, the Director of Hospitality at NIHOTOUR, highlighted to the press that the training program is meticulously crafted to enhance the skills, knowledge, and attitudes of the personnel.
This collaborative initiative between the Enugu State Government and NIHOTOUR stands as a testament to their dedication to propelling the state’s tourism and hospitality sector towards unprecedented growth, in alignment with global standards and best practices.
