The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has concluded its Sustainable Tourism Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) training in six states across the country.

NIHOTOUR’s STEP is an innovative initiative for re-skilling and upskilling women and youth with tourism and hospitality occupational capacity.

The STEP programme held in Lafia, Nasarawa State; Makurdi, Benue State; Ayetoro, Ogun State; and Enugu State from August 2-30 this year was delivered to a total of 330 trainees in the six states.

It would be recalled that last October 2022, the Director General of NIHOTOUR, Nura Sani Kangiwa, created a tourism entrepreneurial support programme for indigent women and youths in the country, tagged; STEP.

Consequently, between December 2 and 23, 2022, STEP trained 400 women and youths, in 10 states across Nigeria, on various hospitality and tourism trade skills including; the making of throw pillows and duvet, as well as, training in soap making and related antiseptics.

On completion of the training, trainees were given relevant business starter-packs and financial support, to jump-start their trade in the industry.

Also, during the official launch of the STEP initiative in December 2022, Management of NIHOTOUR promised to sustain the programme and to extend it, over time, to every state in Nigeria.

This year, in keeping to the promise, NIHOTOUR’s Sustainable Tourism Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) has been training and empowering indigent and rural women and youths in tourism and hospitality sectors’ skill gaps.

Different training packages and modalities are being delivered including Training-of-Trainers and direct-recipient occupational skill training.

According to the institute, so far, NIHOTOUR’s STEP interventions held the ‘Train-the-Trainer’ programmes in Bauchi State, from 23rd to 24th August 2023; and Enugu State from 25th to 26th August 2023. Earlier in Lafia, a training session took place on August 16th to 17th, 2023, where 80 participants were trained in Tailoring/Duvet up-skilling, and another 70 participants received training in Tour Guiding Skills and tradecraft.

Similarly, in Ayetoro, Ogun State, a training session on baking and pastries was held on 2nd and 3rd August 2023, with the participation of 80 individuals.

NIHOTOUR STEP Train-the-Trainers intervention was also held for indigent and rural women and youths in Argungu, Kebbi State and in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).