ABUJA, Nigeria – Chairman of the Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSCN), Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, has pledged to work closely with the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, to strengthen industrial tourism skills and enhance workforce development across Nigeria's tourism sector.
Writing
The commitment was made during the official handover of the National Sector Skills Councils to the Industrial Training Fund at Skills House, Maitama, Abuja, the headquarters of the ITF.
The ceremony marked a major milestone in Nigeria's skills development agenda, formally ending years of institutional disagreements between the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) over the administration of the country's skills development framework.
The transition, facilitated by the Office of the Vice President through the National Council on Skills, introduces a clearer division of responsibilities between the two agencies.
Under the new framework, the ITF will oversee the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), serve as the Secretariat of the National Council on Skills, and coordinate the Secretariat of WorldSkills Nigeria. Meanwhile, the NBTE will concentrate exclusively on regulating formal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Onung described the new arrangement as a significant step toward improving workforce competencies and pledged the HTSSCN's full support for the ITF in advancing industry-driven skills development, particularly within the hospitality and tourism sector.
The event attracted prominent stakeholders in Nigeria's skills development ecosystem, including the Director-General of ITF, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun; the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje; the Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen of Sector Skills Councils, A. B. Nagode; and other industry leaders. Mr. Onung attended the ceremony alongside members of the management team of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).
Declaring an end to the long-standing dispute, Prof. Bugaje said both institutions had reached a mutually agreed framework that clearly defines their operational mandates.
"The conflict between NBTE and ITF over the regulation of the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework is over. ITF is now responsible for administering the NSQF, while NBTE will focus solely on education and the regulation of educational institutions," he said.
The Hospitality and Tourism Sector Skills Council of Nigeria was recently inaugurated by the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Aare Abisoye Fagade. The Council is mandated to develop occupational competency standards, strengthen curricula, promote accreditation systems, generate labour market intelligence, and align professional certification with global best practices in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Sector Skills Councils play a critical role in providing industry leadership by ensuring occupational standards remain responsive to labour market needs, thereby producing a highly skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth and enhancing national competitiveness.
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