NIHOTOUR, NIMC Strengthen Collaboration to Enhance Identity Systems In Tourism And Hospitality Sector
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) are taking steps to deepen institutional collaboration aimed at strengthening national identity systems within Nigeria’s hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.
This followed a courtesy visit by the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Aare Bisoye Fagade, to the Director General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
During the meeting, both agencies explored avenues for strategic cooperation.
According to a statement by Ayodele Babalola, Technical Advisor, Media & Communications to the NIMC DG/CEO, the proposed partnership will integrate NIMC’s national identity data base comprising all registered persons under the NIMC Actinto NIHOTOUR’s certification and registration processes for qualified practitioners, as mandated by the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act.
The alignment is expected to boost credibility, traceability, and professionalism across the tourism and hospitality workforce. It will also contribute to national security, improve service standards, and support data-driven development in the sector.
Reaffirming NIMC’s support, Coker-Odusote emphasized the importance of accurate identity verification for institutions whose mandates require secure and interoperable data exchange. She expressed confidence that the collaboration would deliver significant national development benefits.
NIHOTOUR DG, Aare Bisoye Fagade, noted that the partnership would enhance the institute’s operational systems while raising standards across Nigeria’s expanding hospitality and tourism industry.
Both agencies agreed to establish a joint technical working group to develop an implementation framework, paving the way for a more secure, integrated, and professional sector.
