By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Alakija Agbabiaka and Chairman Board of Trustees, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) , Chief Samuel Alabi have been tipped for the Fellowship of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Award at the World Sustainable Gastronomy Day Celebration scheduled to hold on Saturday, 18th June, 2022 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Other recipients for the NIHOTOUR Fellowship Award are Chief Godfrey Kio Jaja Amachree, Dr. Mrs. Ifeoma Adaora Anyanwutakura, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
Director General of NIHOTOUR, Nura Sani Kangiwa in a statement issued in Abuja said that the awardees were tipped for the Fellowship Awards due to their enormous contributions to the promotion, growth and development of the Travel Tourism and Hospitality industry of the country in their respective domains.
Their contributions in the sector has distinguished them as pioneers and pace setters in lifting the industry to greater heights, Kangiwa said.
ln a statement signed by NIHOTOUR Director , Media & Public Relations, Ahmed Sule the Fellowship Award was instituted as the highest honour by the Institute on individuals who have distinguished themselves and contributed greatly to the education, skill acquisition and enhanced professional practices of professionals in the Travel Tourism and Hospitality sector of the country.
Meanwhile, the Cooking and Essay Competitions for students of Tourism, Cookery and Catering studies in Secondary and Tertiary schools in the country instituted by NIHOTOUR to mark this year’s Sustainable World Gastronomy Day has commenced with participants slugging it out at the first round of the Cooking Competition held in Abuja.
Speaking further on the two competitions, the DG explained that the cooking competition is to inculcate the high ethics of culinary practice amongst students of culinary and hospitality schools as well as to promote the culture of Nigerian culinary in the upcoming generation of youths for a sustainable national and cultural gastronomy of Nigeria.
“The Essay Writing Competition is to instill the love for and practice of tourism as a profession and means of spending leisure time amongst the youths in their early stage of growth, ‘what can best be termed as catching them young.”
The 2022 Sustainable World Gastronomy Day billed for 18th June, 2022 will be hosted by NIHOTOUR with participation and guests expected from practitioners, critical stakeholders of the Travel Tourism and Hospitality sector of both public and private sector organizations, the academia as well as foreign missions and embassies in the country.
According to hospitality agency countries like the Peoples Republic of China, Spain, Ethiopia and others would participate at Gastronomy event while visitors and guests would have the opportunity to taste the varieties of local, international and continental cuisines showcased by participating countries.
