The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering economic growth through a strategic collaboration with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), aimed at advancing development, regulation, and professionalism within Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.
This resolve was expressed during a courtesy visit by a delegation from NIHOTOUR, led by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, to the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja, where they were warmly received by the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
In his remarks, Mazi Osigwe underscored the Bar’s vital role in the hospitality value chain, noting that the Association, with over 130 branches across the federation, is both a consumer and a stakeholder in the sector.
“Lawyers across Nigeria are some of the most frequent users of hotels, conference facilities, and other hospitality establishments,” he stated.
“Beyond being consumers, we are partners in strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks that sustain this ecosystem.”
He commended NIHOTOUR for its visionary leadership in repositioning the industry, describing the engagement as “a significant step toward structured collaboration between the legal profession and the hospitality sector.”
On his part, Dr. Abisoye Fagade expressed appreciation for the NBA’s openness to collaboration.
He recalled that the signing of the NIHOTOUR Act in 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari empowered the Institute to regulate and professionalize the hospitality industry nationwide.
According to Dr. Fagade, partnering with the NBA would bolster the Institute’s capacity to enhance data credibility, strengthen compliance with industry standards, and implement reforms consistent with global best practices.
He also announced plans for NIHOTOUR’s first-ever Induction Ceremony for Hospitality Professionals, inviting the NBA President to deliver a goodwill message at the event.
In response, Mazi Osigwe described tourism and hospitality as “vital engines of economic transformation,” citing global examples such as Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, countries that have successfully leveraged tourism for national prosperity.
“We must view hospitality and tourism not merely as leisure sectors but as powerful tools for job creation, foreign investment, and national development,” he said.
“With sound legal frameworks and institutional support, Nigeria can unlock the immense potential of this industry.”
He reaffirmed the NBA’s readiness to collaborate with NIHOTOUR in driving policy reforms, advancing the objectives of the NIHOTOUR Act, and elevating the sector’s operational standards.
He added that the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) would play an instrumental role in facilitating training and dialogue on hospitality and tourism law.
Both parties agreed to explore the establishment of a joint policy forum to review existing laws and frameworks guiding the hospitality and tourism industry in Nigeria.
Mazi Afam Osigwe concluded, “This engagement marks the beginning of a purposeful partnership between the NBA and NIHOTOUR, one that reflects our shared vision to promote economic growth, strengthen governance structures, and use the law as a catalyst for national transformation.”
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