The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have moved toward a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening national identity systems across Nigeria’s hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.
This followed a courtesy visit on Friday by the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Aare Bisoye Fagade, to the NIMC Director General/CEO, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Fagade was accompanied by members of his management team.
Speaking during the visit, both chief executives stressed the need for a deeper institutional partnership to enhance data integrity, professionalism, and security within the country’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
A key highlight of the engagement was NIHOTOUR’s proposal to integrate NIMC’s national identity database into its certification and registration processes for practitioners, in line with the mandate of the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act. The move is expected to improve traceability, validate practitioner identity, and strengthen regulatory oversight of the industry.
Coker-Odusote welcomed the initiative, noting that accurate identity verification and secure data exchange are essential for effective governance and economic development. She reaffirmed NIMC’s readiness to support institutions whose operations depend on robust identity management systems.
Fagade explained that the collaboration would elevate standards across the tourism and hospitality sector, improve institutional processes, and contribute to national security and efficient service delivery. He said the partnership aligned with NIHOTOUR’s vision of building a globally competitive workforce.
Both agencies agreed to set up a joint technical working group to develop a framework for implementation, signalling the beginning of a more integrated and professionalized tourism sector.
