By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
The Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, has flagged off the maiden edition of the Eco-Genesis Incubator Skills Training and Empowerment Program in Benue State.
At a ceremony held at the Makurdi Campus of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, the Minister maintained that the program was aimed at nurturing local businesses in fostering sustainable development nationwide.
She explained that the program which is envisaged to cover the 774 Local Governments across the country was in line with the Renewed Hope Transformation Agenda of President Bola Tinubu's administration.
"This project aims to nurture local businesses in fostering sustainable development nationwide in alignment with the President's renewed hope agenda".
She expressed the commitment of her ministry to forge partnerships with critical stakeholders including the private sector, States and Local Governments to cultivate distinctive ingenious products and services that will elevate the nation as a premium travel destination.
According to Mrs. Lola Ade-John, the Eco-Genesis Incubator Skills Training and Empowerment Program was a collaborative initiative designed to empower women and youths in the tourism sector with excellent skills for self reliance.
"This initiative embodies the transformative potential of collaboration and innovation in empowering women and youths in the tourism sector.
"The Eco-Genesis Incubator is a Nigerian tailored enterprise development program drafted specifically for women and youths residing in tourist host Communities through targeted training and empowerment project conducted in rural areas across the country".
The significance of the training she said is to ensure that youths and women have the necessary skills to design and trade in products for tourism Communities.
"So, rather than we going into the urban areas, people from urban areas when they come into the Communities, they will have things that they can buy. It's a start and I'm really excited with the level of participation, and what they have achieved".
The Minister acknowledged the threat posed by insecurity to the development of tourism industry in the country noting however that the challenge was not peculiar to Nigeria.
"Every country has security issues and we ourselves need to be mindful of our neighbours, the people around us and engage in security operations ourselves. Security is also fostered by joblessness because, if you are gainfully employed, you won't have time to be a terrorist".
The Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, Nura Sani Kangiwa stressed that the tourism industry and the value chain connected to it controls about 70 percent of youths employment in the country.
Mr. Kangiwa argued that the tourism industry was the largest employer of labour in Nigeria, accounting for more than 60 percent of Nigeria's GDP.
"You won't see the immediate impact, because, we are yet to commence the data collection but the Honourable Minister has set up a team that will collaborate with the National Bureau of Statistics to come up with level market information system, so by doing that, we will be able to know the contribution of tourism to Nigeria's GDP which I believe is enormous".
On value addition to the standard and quality of manpower training by the institute, the Director General said so much has been achieved in maintenance of standard and substance placing NIHOTOUR among the best Tourism Institutions in the continent.
"We are expanding our outreach. Now we are in 12 states in the country. Less than 2 years ago, we were only in 8, but with time, we will reach all the crannies, and the Honourable Minister has also embarked on reaching out with aggressive campaigns".
The Director General announced that NIHOTOUR had obtained a mobile training kitchen with the hope to be able to carryout our trainings outside the confines of its campuses.
Kangiwa however denied speculations that the Zonal Centre of the Institute located in Makurdi was to be relocated to another state within the geopolitical zone.
"The magnificent edifice with facilities provided for us can not push us to relocate this centre to any part of the country. We thank Benue State Government for giving us this beautiful facility and we have no intention of leaving the state".
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia commended President Bola Tinubu for flagging off the maiden edition of the Eco-Genesis Incubator Series training and empowerment program in the state.
Represented by the State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mr. Mathew Abo, the Governor announced free scholarship program to sponsor indigent and vulnerable children in the state to study at the institute.
He urged indigenes of Benue State who are roaming the streets in search of admission into higher institutions to patronize the institute.
According to Correspondents' report, the beneficiaries of the training were presented with certificates, cash and starter packs by the Honourable Minister.
