Institute of hospitality, UK and national security

The fact that the hospitality industry remains the largest employer of labour globally is one that Nigeria, as the biggest and fastest-growing economy in Africa should cash on. Tremendously blessed with some of the world’s most beautiful tourist destinations and a largely hospitable people, now is the time to give the   sub-sector of the vibrant economy the needed fillip. What more, with the recent revelation that some 40 top-of-the range international hotels are gearing up to take off across the major cities of the country, we can no longer afford to lag behind when it comes to establishing international best practices.

 There are however, the increasing challenges of decrepit infrastructure characterized by unstable electric power supply, lack of adequate, good access roads and of course, the escalating critical issue of insecurity. For the industry with huge potentials for growth and development to maximize those attributes these lapses must be tackled frontally. It is therefore, heart-warming and auspicious that the Institute of Hospitality, UK (Nigeria International Branch) has taken the bull by the horn. It has done so by recently hosting  its Fourth International Conference and Annual General Meeting at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos with a thematically relevant topic  on how best to tackle the increasing menace of insecurity.

Tagged: Tourism, Hospitality and National Security-A Synergy for Economic Growth and Stability  and coordinated by Adedayo Adesugba, it provided a veritable platform for the cross-pollination of pragmatic ideas which the public should gain from. For instance, the guest speakers, such as the Assistant Inspector General, Zone 1, Nigeria Police, Onikan Lagos and Ademola Iyiade, former Head of Department of Hospitality Management, Lagos State Polytechnic provided those present food-for-thought. As the Chairman of the Nigerian Branch, Olatunde Oluloye rightly pointed out in his speech, the time we have found ourselves in calls for sober reflection. But more importantly, in seeking solutions to prevailing problems there has to be a synergy between the Institute and a wide spectrum of the Nigerian society. These include other relevant institutions such as the security forces, the food and beverage and the transport sectors as well as policy makers to take the country’s tourism industry to the next level.

While in the past, owners and operators of five-star hotels had to grapple with the challenge of armed robbery, the current wave of insecurity, courtesy of the Boko Haram insurgency has made the industry to be hard-hit. That is, compared to other sectors and professionals that would continue to operate in spite of the insurgency. For instance, it is painful that some hotels up North have been forced to close shop. Therefore, there should be availability and exchange of vital information on security, through the deployment of modern technology and unity of purpose amongst the esteemed members to lead to any meaningful level of productivity. The on-going intensified efforts by the Institute to bring in all stakeholders in the hospitality industry under one big umbrella is sine qua non to its progress.

Other significant issues that Kehinde Daniel, Chairperson, International Conference brought to the fore includes the setting up and sustenance of standards, as she reiterated the fact that the industry is not meant for all comers. Emphasis should therefore, be placed on improved human capacity development, assurance of food safety and strict adherence to standard medical conditions of workers, who must be healthy to serve the public at all times. She also canvassed for the involvement of qualified builders and architects by hotel owners, right from its stage of conceptualisation to avoid building collapse.

Furthermore, as Koyayoda Ahmiegbe, the Head of Human Relations and Administration, Protea Hotel, Lagos noted, there is need to close the wide information gap which currently exists between the small hotels and the much bigger ones. The former ones, for instance may not be enforcing the rules and regulations on medical assessment of staff, nor conducting thorough food tests as the latter. To attain international standards, checks have to be conducted on food items right from the raw materials. The good thing right now is the bold initiative the Institute has taken to ensure that the right things are done, as Nigeria cannot be immune from the global standards.

And in a similar vein, Faletiba, who came in from Botswana observed more has to be done in the areas of arbitration and adjudication. The Institute has to look into the sensitive aspect of licencing and grading of hotels across the 36 states and the Federal Capital, Abuja. With that in place, all the members stand to benefit from the global body and even attain a permanent seat at the international level. Good enough, the institute has in the past three years stepped up its linkage with other associations and only recently launched its website.

On his part, a veteran in the industry, Murtala Bankole harped on the issue of establishing the Tourism Master plan, given Nigeria’s 252 ethnic nationalities as well as 92 recognised annual festivals. To tackle insecurity there should be the deployment of ICT in addition to sustained human capital development. The desired synergy with other professionals should start with the architects, while the media should be carried along for the public to fully appreciate and even assist in actualizing the dreams of the institute.

For me, it was an eye opener to realise that the industry, which has been grossly under reported, compared to its increasing relevance to the economy has so many erudite minds with useful ideas that are not really known to the  public. What is laudable about the Institute’s efforts include taking the industry to the international level and seeing the need to tackle insecurity and insurgency which should be the concern of all and sundry.

 

Ayo Oyoze Baje