The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, has engaged with a high-powered team from the African Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit (AHTES) to explore strategic opportunities for advancing Nigeria’s tourism sector through education, skills development, and robust youth involvement. 
In a productive courtesy visit, Chimezie Mike, Project Director and Convener of AHTES, was represented by Florence Oyelade-Adedayo, Head of Programs, and Prisca Okere, Head of Partnerships and Sponsorship. The delegation extended a formal invitation to Dr. Awakan and the NTDA to participate in the landmark AHTES 2026, scheduled for 24th and 25th July 2026 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. 
The summit, themed “Education for Service Excellence,” will feature a main conference on July 24 followed by an educational tour of key Lagos tourism sites on July 25. It aims to deepen student engagement, mentorship programmes, scholarship opportunities, and direct industry exposure for the next generation of hospitality and tourism professionals across Africa. Organized annually by Tourism Afrikania, AHTES has established itself as a premier pan-African platform bridging academia and industry practice. 
Dr. Awakan warmly welcomed the initiative, underscoring the critical importance of youth-focused collaborations in unlocking Nigeria’s immense tourism potential. He highlighted NTDA’s ongoing efforts to actively engage students, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, and tertiary institutions nationwide through targeted programmes, internships, and capacity-building initiatives. 
This engagement aligns with the NTDA’s broader mandate under the Renewed Hope Agenda to position tourism as a major driver of economic growth, job creation, and cultural diplomacy, with young Nigerians at the forefront. Dr. Awakan reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to partnering with platforms like AHTES to build a skilled, innovative, and globally competitive workforce. 
The anticipated participation of the NTDA at AHTES 2026 is expected to further strengthen linkages between policy, education, and industry, accelerating human capital development in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism ecosystem.
