Tinubu Receives Nigeria’s Highest Tourism Honour, Reaffirms Support For Sector Reforms

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting reforms in Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry after receiving the Grand Fellow of National Hospitality and Tourism (GFNHT), described as the highest singular honour in the country’s tourism sector.

In a statement signed by Dr Boye Longe, Special Adviser on Communication Strategy at the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), the institute said its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Aare Abisoye Fagade, presented the honour to Tinubu during a meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

During the meeting, Fagade briefed the President on ongoing reforms in the tourism, hospitality and travel sector, including efforts to strengthen professional standards, develop industry skills and implement the NIHOTOUR Act 2022.

He said the reforms were aimed at improving service quality, accountability and competitiveness across the industry.

Speaking on the meeting, Fagade said tourism should be viewed beyond leisure and recreation, describing it as an economic sector capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and contributing to national development.

“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,” he said.

The engagement, according to NIHOTOUR, aligns with the objectives of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly economic diversification, employment generation and the development of productive non-oil sectors.

NIHOTOUR reaffirmed its commitment to working with government and private-sector stakeholders to strengthen professionalism and build a competitive tourism industry with greater national and international recognition.