100
delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme have been inducted as fellows
of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality.
The newly-inducted
fellows are the first tranche of delegates to conclude a month-long training at
the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality in Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State.
The training
explored the diverse opportunities in Nigeria’s tourism sector, while
highlighting the nation’s rich cultural heritage as a solid base for fashion
and catering businesses.
Speaking at
the induction ceremony, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and
Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig.Gen.Paul Boroh(Rtd) described
the training as expansive enough to integrate key elements of Nigeria’s social
environment as unique selling points for targeted Small and Medium Scale
Enterprises in the hospitality industry.
‘’I am
optimistic that the delegates would make remarkable contributions to the growth
of the nation’s tourism and hospitality industry. I therefore urge them to
engage in activities that will help sharpen whatever skills they now possess
and to put these skills to use in ways that will benefit them and society. Gen.
Boroh was also firm in support of young people who strive on their own to
acquire skills in vocations that have bearing on subsistence. He advised the
delegates to be worthy ambassadors of the Amnesty programme and their families
stating that society expects much from them.
The event in
Yenagoa attracted a large turnout of guests which included strong
representations from the state government and the traditional rulers council
represented by HRM King Alfred Diette-Spiff. Bayelsa state Governor Seriake
Dickson was represented by the commissioner for tourism development, Mrs Ebiere
Irene Musa who encouraged the delegates to take advantage of the opportunity
given them by the government to do great exploits in the hospitality and
Tourism sector. She said the delegates have been equipped with practical and
theoretical aspects in the industry to compete with their counterparts
globally.
The training
of Amnesty delegates in Tourism and hospitality at the International Institute
of Tourism and Hospitality is considered by the Amnesty Office as a homegrown
approach to tackling some development needs in the Niger Delta.
This first
set of delegates trained at the institute were empowered with business start up
packs to enable them begin their own enterprise. While all 100 were duly
inducted as fellows of the institute, a few others were recognised for
outstanding performance with awards of excellence conferred on the deserving
delegates. Another batch of 100 delegates is expected to be deployed to the
institute soon for training with a projected one thousand completing training
in Tourism and Hospitality in the next ten months.
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