Stakeholders endorse skills development, call for strengthening of Tourism and Hospitality Sector skills Council

Nigeria’s trajectory of skills transfer has evolved significantly, progressing from traditional, informal apprenticeship systems to the more structured National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). This evolution underscores a national shift toward fostering economic growth, empowering youth, and building a skilled workforce for the future.

The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr Abisoye Fagade, in his drive to advance the industry, welcomed the commitment of stakeholders in the Travel, Tourism, Hospitality and Allied Trades to skills development and capacity building.

He stressed NIHOTOUR’s readiness, as the nation’s Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council, to champion initiatives that professionalize the sector and raise industry standards.

Fagade reiterated the critical importance of skills acquisition over reliance on academic paper qualifications, particularly in the travel, tourism, and hospitality value chain. Equipping young people with employable skills, he noted, is key to diverting them from social vices, strengthening national security, and addressing pressing challenges such as unemployment, poverty, social instability, and insecurity.

 

A further boost to the skills agenda came with the circular issued by the Head of Service of the Federation last year, which conveyed the approval by the National Council on Establishment for the inclusion of National Skills Qualification (NSQ) Levels in the Scheme of Service across all public service sectors. This policy recognizes that persons trained in any skill area, with qualifications from Levels 1–6, are employable and can be placed on salary grades corresponding to their certified competencies.

Explaining the framework, the DG highlighted that the NSQF is anchored on National Occupational Standards (NOS)—statements of competence and performance required in specific job roles, alongside the necessary underpinning knowledge. This, he noted, reinforces the vital role of the Sector Skills Council (SSC) and Awarding Bodies (ABs) in workforce development for travel, tourism, hospitality, and allied trades.

Established in 2015, the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSON), coordinated by NIHOTOUR, is mandated to engage employers and industry stakeholders to identify skills gaps, develop, validate, and implement NOS nationwide.

Fagade expressed delight that 12 key areas have been identified and their NOS developed and approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the sector. These include:

1. Airport and Passenger Service Operations
2. Event Handling Operations
3. Food Preparation, Packaging, and Dispatch
4. Food and Beverage Production
5. Food Safety Services
6. Food and Beverage Service
7. Front Office Operations
8. Housekeeping Operations
9. Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Operations
10. Tour Operations
11. Travel Agency Operations
12. Travel and Tourism Advisory Services

These NOS are subsequently developed into National Skills Qualifications by the designated Sectoral Awarding Body.

According to him, the functionality of the SSC relies on strong collaboration between the NBTE, which approves the NOS, and the Awarding Body, which develops qualifications for nationwide implementation. “The entire system is designed to give trainees access to knowledge-based, practical skills and workplace ethics rooted in established occupational standards,” he noted.

Awarding Bodies, he stressed, go beyond issuing certificates—they are custodians of quality assurance and industry relevance. They set and enforce standards across training institutions, thereby safeguarding educational integrity and ensuring qualifications meet labour market demands.

To enhance effectiveness, Fagade outlined the following:

• The SSC must be strengthened through strong institutional support, robust industry linkages, up-to-date skills standards, continuous capacity building, effective advocacy, and rigorous monitoring.
• The Awarding Body must ensure credibility, global benchmarking, strong quality assurance systems, digital innovation, active industry engagement, and visible policy advocacy to establish itself as the trusted authority for professionalizing Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality.

Looking ahead, analysts envision a Nigeria empowered by a highly skilled, adaptable, and entrepreneurial workforce—capable of meeting the demands of a dynamic global economy. Such a workforce will not only reduce unemployment but also drive national development and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.

The path to this future, the DG noted, requires the collective responsibility of all stakeholders—government, industry, educational institutions, and awarding bodies. Sustained investment in skills development is not just an educational cost, but a strategic national investment—a pathway to dignity, productivity, and prosperity for all Nigerians.