In a move to strengthen the collaboration between academia and industry, the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has approved the appointment of five nominees from the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) as Industry Lecturers in the newly established Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
This partnership aims to produce graduates equipped with the skills and high-level expertise needed to deliver quality services of international standards.
The Vice-Chancellor of UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, expressed his approval, appointing Adedayo Olaolu Adesugba as the Industry Head of the Department. Adesugba will share the responsibility of leading the Industry-Supported Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management as a Co-Head. Other approved Industry Lecturers include Abiodun Odusanwo, Susan Akporiaye, Ovat Justina Afiegu, Badaki Aliyu Ajayi, and Abawonse Stephen Kolawole.
The University Registrar, Mal. Yahya Mohammed emphasised the importance of collaboration between ACCI and UniAbuja in training students and promoting the tourism industry while urging the newly appointed lecturers to initiate a strong and enduring partnership between the university and the industry, especially for the Tourism and Hospitality Degree Programme.
The President of ACCI commended the approval, stating that the nominees were carefully selected from the ACCI Tourism and Creative Industry Trade Group. This group, chaired by Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, Vice President of Communication Strategy and External Relations, aims to create sustainable adventure tourism opportunities and networking among its members.
The partnership between ACCI and UniAbuja, established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2021, has facilitated knowledge sharing, innovation promotion, and capacity building. The collaboration has been successful, and both organisations are looking forward to further advancements in the future.
The collaboration between UniAbuja and ACCI is expected to enhance the quality of education in the tourism and hospitality field, bridge the gap between academia and industry, and contribute to the growth of the tourism sector in Nigeria.
