Tinubu Receives Nigeria’s Highest Tourism Honour, Pledges Support For Industry Reforms
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry after receiving the country’s highest tourism honour from the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).
The President received the Grand Fellow of National Hospitality and Tourism (GFNHT) award during a meeting with NIHOTOUR’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Aare Abisoye Fagade, in Abuja.
The recognition, conferred by NIHOTOUR, is described by the institute as the highest singular honour in Nigeria’s tourism sector.
During the meeting, Fagade briefed Tinubu on ongoing reforms aimed at improving professional standards, developing industry skills and implementing the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 to enhance service delivery, accountability and competitiveness across the tourism, hospitality and travel sectors.
Tinubu’s pledge of continued support highlights the administration’s focus on tourism as a potential driver of economic diversification, job creation, investment and enterprise development.
Speaking after the engagement, Fagade stressed the need to recognise tourism as more than a sector for leisure and recreation, describing it as an economic driver capable of creating employment opportunities and contributing to national development.
He explained that NIHOTOUR’s reforms were designed to improve professional competence, strengthen industry standards and establish a credible regulatory environment that would encourage businesses to grow and attract investment.
“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 engagement aligns with the objectives of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on economic diversification, employment generation and the development of productive non-oil sectors.
NIHOTOUR reiterated its commitment to collaborating with government agencies and private-sector stakeholders to develop a more professional, competitive and internationally recognised tourism industry capable of delivering sustainable benefits to Nigerians.
