2,100 firms benefit from N75bn survival fund
By Tanko Mohammed
Nigeria has reported that 2,186 firms employing 12,117 workers have benefitted from its N75 billion Survival Fund for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Monday in Makurdi at the formal take-off of the North -Centh Zonal Headquarters of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).
The Campus was handed over to the Ministry of Information and Culture on behalf of NIHOTOUR by the Benue State Government.
He said the Federal Government has been doing a lot to alleviate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially as it affects the Creative and Tourism sector.
He said the Travel, Hospitality, Tourism and other related services have over one million private establishments employing over 9.8 million persons in the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister said the industry contributed about 4.8 per cent to total national output (GDP) and utilised about 1.6 percent of Nigerians in the year 2016.
“In addition, according to PricewaterhouseCooper’s 2019 hospitality report, the Nigerian hospitality industry is expected to grow by 12 per cent yearly till
2023, making it one of the fastest growing markets.
“That is until the world encountered a hurdle by the name COVID-19,” he said.
Mohammed said the federal government is doing everything possible to encourage tourism development in Nigeria because the benefits derivable therein are tremendous.
Speaking on the institution project, the minister said it is coming at a time that, globally, tourism is assuming its pride of place and the sector has become a major catalyst for economic growth and social well-being of the citizens.
He noted that one of the prerequisites for tourism to develop and play its
desired role in the socio-economic life of a nation is availability of well-trained personnel.
“This forms the basis for the Federal Government’s decision to have a specialised training institution for the hospitality and tourism industry in Nigeria, which culminated in the establishment of NIHOTOUR.
“It is our belief that no amount of investments in either infrastructure or in expanding tourism capacity in Nigeria will ever be successful unless the necessary manpower in the required numbers and at the required levels of knowledge and skills are provided to manage the sector.
“This is why we are committed to seeing NIHOTOUR achieve its mandate in this respect,” he said.
The minister assured that Benue state and the country in general will benefit from the great export earning capacity, employment generation and wealth redistribution from the project.
He thanked Gov. Samuel Ortom for fulfilling the promise of donating the edifice to the institute adding that it showed the state’s Ocommitment to the growth of the hospitality and tourism sector.
Mohammed reiterated his ministry’s determination to develop, project and showcase Nigeria’s tourism endowments.
He said the Ministry is equally committed to working with the states to develop the tourism sector.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Benson Abounu thanked the federal government and the Minister for giving Benue the opportunity to host the institution on behalf of the North-Central zone