To drive comprehensive capacity growth across Nigeria’s aviation and tourism value chains, the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) has said that a strategic partnership with the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Abuja, will strengthen sustainable manpower development in both sectors.

This, according to the National President of the ITPN, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, will be directly aligning with the Federal Government’s vision for an integrated travel and tourism economy.

Odusanwo, who stated during an official visit to the Acting Vice Chancellor of AAAU, Dr. Mustapha Sheikh Abdullah, in Abuja that while tourism fuels the demand for air travel, aviation enables seamless access to destinations, also highlighted the urgent need for the collaboration. He noted that the partnership seeks to leverage the complementary strengths of both institutions.

He further said that ITPN is recognised by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) as Nigeria’s premier awarding body for travel and tourism, structured within the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) and National Occupational Standards (NOS). “This established framework perfectly aligns with AAAU’s core mandate as a specialised institution dedicated to advanced aviation skills training and acquisition,” Odunsanwo stated.

He emphasised that the initiative was a symbiotic relationship between aviation and tourism and the collaboration would address critical skill gaps by harmonising training standards and fostering knowledge exchange, which would ultimately elevate service delivery, improve passenger experiences, and stimulate economic growth.

“This partnership represents a monumental step toward achieving the Federal Government’s vision for an integrated travel and tourism economy.

“By combining ITPN’s expertise in professional certification under the NSQF with AAAU’s mandate for specialised aviation education, we can establish credible training pathways. This will create a robust pipeline of skilled professionals equipped to meet the dynamic demands of Nigeria’s expanding aviation and tourism markets,” Odusanwo said.

In his response, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. Abdullah, noted that partnering with ITPN is highly timely, as the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) is currently intensifying efforts to produce highly skilled manpower for the aviation sector.

“This collaboration aligns perfectly with the Presidential directive to position aviation and tourism as key drivers of national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda, while reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to professionalising the workforce and boosting both sectors’ contributions to the national GDP.”

He added that this alignment follows directives from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, for the university to remain focused on its specialised mandate.

Abdullah emphasised that ITPN’s established role as an awarding body –with approved National Occupational Standards (NOS) across 12 key areas like Airport, Passenger Service, and Travel Agency Operations provides the perfect complementary framework for AAAU’s academic and professional training programmes.

ITPN is Nigeria’s premier professional body responsible for certification, accreditation, and quality assurance across the travel, tourism, hospitality, and aviation sectors. Recognised by both the NBTE and NABTEB under the National Skills Qualification Framework, it sets the standard for industry professionalisation. AAAU, Abuja is a specialised institution established by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Its core mandate is to bridge Africa’s manpower gap in aviation and aerospace by delivering world-class education in aircraft engineering, aviation management, and aerospace engineering.