…Advances One-Government Policy to Champion Skills Revolution in Tourism, Creative Industry, with 4 Million Jobs
By Ado Salisu
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa has stated the deliberate efforts of the federal government to create over 4 million jobs through the One-Government strategy in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education that will hugely benefit the Nigerian economy.
Musawa who stated this while declaring the 9th edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo open in Abuja on Monday, disclosed the historic partnership between the tourism and education ministries to overhaul the nation’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system projected to unlock an estimated 4.08 million potential jobs of 2.58 million in creative industries and 1.5 million in tourism and hospitality.
While congratulating the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria under the leadership of its National President, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo for the consistency in bringing together stakeholders across the travel tourism, hospitality and transportation sectors annually to chart a roadmap for synergy in tourism and transportation, she said the One-Government initiative aims to align youth skills directly with the demands of the creative and tourism sectors by building an industry-relevant skills transitioning from generic training to specialized trade pathways in creative media, fashion, leather works, live events and hospitality services in the industry.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, National President of ITPN and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Organising Committee, welcomed delegates and highlighted the Summit’s focus on implementing presidential directives aimed at synergizing tourism and transportation for national development as well as education to upscale the skills gaps in the industry through government laudable program initiative of One-Government strategy in the successful implementation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), scheme.
Goodwill messages were received from industry leaders at the occasion including Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), who reaffirmed his agency’s commitment to sustainable tourism growth and highlighted ongoing partnerships to boost tourism development with critical stakeholder bodies in the country.
Also contributing, Dr. Aliyu Badaki, President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), called for urgent legislative reforms, specifically the review and re-enactment of the NTDA and NIHOTOUR Acts, to address regulatory conflicts hindering investment in the sector.
Also speaking, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Shehu Mohammed, represented by ACM Godwin Omiki, said the FRSC as the lead agency responsible for road traffic management and safety administration in Nigeria, remains committed to creating an environment where mobility is not only seamless but also safe for every road user, noting that road safety is not merely an enforcement responsibility, but a critical enabler of national development.
Other goodwill speakers include Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), who addressed the importance of rail infrastructure as a fundamental pillar for tourism mobility, calling for increased investment and support for local engineering capacity.
In his message at the occasion. In his message to the occasion, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Mr. Olumode Samuel Adeyemi which was delivered on his behalf by ACG Arogundade Kolawole commended the organisers for sustaining the Summit which continues to bring together critical stakeholders to shape the future of Nigeria’s tourism and transportation sectors, noting that safety is the foundation upon which thriving tourism and transportation systems are built. ‘Tourists are attracted to destinations where they feel secure, while efficient transportation depends on strong safety standards and effective emergency response and public confidence are critical, without these, investments are threatened, businesses suffer, and national development is constrained’ he concluded
The National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo, which is a combined public and private sector-industry event organized by the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) under the leadership of Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, brought together key public and private sector stakeholders to chart a roadmap for the integration of transportation and tourism, a critical synergy for economic growth has continued to serve as a pivotal platform for shaping the future of Nigeria’s tourism economy and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.