The Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare Bisoye Fagade, has paid a courtesy visit to the Director General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Fagade, who was accompanied by members of his management team, engaged the NIMC leadership on pathways to deepen institutional collaboration.
A statement by Ayodele Babalola, Technical Advisor, Media & Communications to the NIMC DG/CEO, explained that the discussions focused on strengthening national identity systems within Nigeria’s hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.
During the meeting, both agencies underscored the importance of a strong partnership in advancing their respective mandates. The proposed collaboration aims to integrate NIMC’s national identity database—covering all persons registered under the NIMC Act—into NIHOTOUR’s certification and registration processes for practitioners, as mandated by the NIHOTOUR Establishment Act.
The integration is expected to enhance credibility, traceability, and professionalism within the tourism and hospitality workforce. It will also support national security efforts, improve service standards, and promote data-driven development across the sector.
Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to supporting institutions that rely on accurate identity verification, stressing that interoperability and secure data exchange are critical components of modern governance and economic growth. She applauded NIHOTOUR’s initiative and expressed confidence that the collaboration would significantly contribute to national development.
In his remarks, Aare Bisoye Fagade noted that the partnership would strengthen NIHOTOUR’s institutional processes while elevating standards across Nigeria’s expanding hospitality and tourism landscape.
Both organizations agreed to establish a joint technical working group to develop an implementation framework, setting the stage for a more secure, integrated, and professional sector.
