The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Kakakin Kebbi) has called on more youths to take up career in travel tourism and hospitality trades.
The minister made the commendation while presenting certificates to youths and women who participated in the training programme during World Tourism Day celebration in Birnin Kebbi.
He stressed that skill in tour guiding will improve the capacity of personnel needed to boost tourism activities in Kebbi state in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
He also called on the trainees to make good use of the skills they have acquired in promoting the tourism industry of the state.
Lai Mohammed also commended the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) for including skill acquisition training in tour guiding as part of activities marking the 2021 World Tourism Day celebration.
While declaring open the training program earlier, the Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa called on youths and women in Kebbi State attending the skill acquisition and training in tour guiding to be steadfast in their pursuit of career in the Travel Tourism and Hospitality trades for gainful and self-employment.
Kangiwa who spoke through Mr. Edwin Enenta, Head of Department of Travel Tourism of the Institute said by virtue of their versatility, the travel tourism and hospitality trades have the potential of offering high level job opportunities thus curbing unemployment and reducing poverty.
He said participants at the training program should see the exercise as a part of the contributions of NIHOTOUR in impacting positively the gains and benefits of the tourism sector to them, offering them the opportunity to be self-reliant and be productive members of the society.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Director Youth in the State Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mal Zaga noted that the training on Tour Guiding was a blessing to the state in view of the abundant tourism resources that the state is endowed with, including the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival which attract visitors both within Nigeria and outside the country, adding that having potentially skilled tour guides will help boost tourism activities of the state.
He expressed his delight on behalf of the government and people of Kebbi State for the gesture, noting that with more of such trainings, promoting the tourism potentials of the state to the global community will be easier with higher benefits.
The skill acquisition training titled Tour Guiding for Youths and Women in Kebbi State and Sub themes which include; An Overview of the Travel and Tourism Industry, Principles and Practices of Tour Guiding and Itinerary Planning for Tour Guides amongst others, is part of activities to mark the 2021 World Tourism Day celebrations being hosted by Kebbi State and it is targeted at the unemployed youths and women of the State.
