Tinubu receives Nigeria’s highest tourism honour, pledges support for reforms

President Bola Tinubu has received Nigeria’s highest tourism honour, the Grand Fellow of National Hospitality and Tourism (GFNHT), from the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

Tinubu received the honour on Thursday in Abuja when he met with NIHOTOUR’s Director-General, Abisoye Fagade, who briefed him on ongoing reforms in the tourism, hospitality and travel sectors.

The reforms focus on professional standards, skills development and the implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 to improve service quality, accountability and competitiveness in the industry.

During the meeting, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the growth of the sector, which the institute said could contribute to economic diversification, job creation, investment and enterprise development.

Fagade said tourism should be recognised not only as a leisure and recreation activity but also as an economic sector capable of creating jobs and contributing to national prosperity.

“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,” he said.

He added that the President’s continued support was important to advancing the reforms and positioning the sector for greater economic impact.

The engagement aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification, employment generation and the development of non-oil sectors.