President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Yinka Folami, has called on Nigerians to remain patient and patriotic as the country undergoes economic reforms.
He assured that the travel trade sector is aligning with government-led compliance measures to position its professionals for global competitiveness.
Speaking during an engagement with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mr. Folami noted that the association has consistently championed regulation of the trade, recalling that NANTA was the first to petition the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for oversight of its operations.
He further emphasized that international certification, such as that of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), represents a higher benchmark of professionalism, which NIHOTOUR continues to support through training partnerships.
“As an association, we were the first to write to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to regulate our trade. IATA (International Air Transport Association) certification is a further level of professional recognition, which NIHOTOUR also supports through training programmes”.
Commending NANTA’s drive, Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, described the association as a leading voice for professionalism in Nigeria’s travel trade sub-sector.
He said NIHOTOUR is prepared to back the institutionalization of a NANTA-focused training academy to curb quackery and unregulated entry into the profession.
According to him, NIHOTOUR would even be willing to transfer certain regulatory powers to NANTA in recognition of its strides in training and capacity development.
“NANTA has done so much in training its members, and we at NIHOTOUR are ready to transfer our regulatory powers in that area to the association. Our goal is to ensure that anyone coming into the trade must pass through NANTA. This is the kind of collaboration we have been talking about, and we must continue to strengthen”.
The engagement also highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the sector, with former NANTA President Mrs. Susan Akporiaye recounting how the crisis inspired the creation of a training academy that has since grown into a hub for equipping new entrants with the knowledge and skills required for the trade.
Industry stakeholders, including Mr. Ahmed Ojuolape, President of Empire Travel Kano and a founding consultant of NIHOTOUR’s IATA Training Faculty, also stressed the importance of standardisation and collaboration.
He urged NANTA to leverage the NIHOTOUR Act to further strengthen its academy, insisting that only through professionalism and discipline can Nigerian travel agents compete on the world stage.
“Our business thrives on standardisation and professionalism. If we are to be taken seriously within and outside Nigeria, we must remain disciplined, focused, and collaborative with NIHOTOUR to ensure our members are among the very best globally”.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen