The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) are set to deepen institutional collaboration following high-level discussions between the two agencies in Abuja on Friday.
The Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Aare Bisoye Fagade, led members of his management team on a courtesy visit to the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, at the commission’s headquarters, where both sides explored strategies to enhance cooperation.
During the meeting, the two organisations underscored the importance of strengthening national identity systems within Nigeria’s hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors. Central to the proposed partnership is the integration of NIMC’s national identity database into NIHOTOUR’s certification and registration processes, as mandated by the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act.
The initiative is expected to improve the credibility and traceability of professionals within the sector, support national security efforts, and promote data-driven development while elevating service standards across the industry.
Coker-Odusote reaffirmed NIMC’s readiness to support institutions that rely on accurate identity verification, noting that secure interoperability and data exchange are essential for modern governance and economic growth. She commended NIHOTOUR’s proactive move, expressing confidence in the benefits the partnership will bring to national development.
Fagade, in turn, stated that the collaboration would enhance NIHOTOUR’s institutional processes and further professionalise the rapidly growing hospitality and tourism workforce.
Both agencies agreed to establish a joint technical working group to develop an implementation framework, signalling a new phase of cooperation aimed at creating a more secure and integrated sector.
