This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson for the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Joesef Karim, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the FG would be introducing a sustainable tourism entrepreneurship programme ‘EcoGenesis Incubator’ for training and empowering women and youths that are residents in Nigeria’s tourism host communities across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“The objective is to offer a dynamic platform that will catalyse innovation and drive economic empowerment by helping the participants to develop, articulate, and refine their skills and tourism products.
“This will eventually lift many out of poverty by leveraging on the abundant tourism opportunities inherent in our communities across the nation,” the statement said.
The first series of the ‘EcoGenesis Incubator’ programme will be the training and empowerment of women in tourism souvenir production, specifically in jewellery making and rhinestone embellishment.
The training is scheduled to be held in Makurdi, Benue State, on March 14-15, 2024.
Karim said, “On completion, the trainees will be given tourism entrepreneurial starter-packs to enable them to start their jewellery-making and rhinestone embellishment businesses targeting visitors and tourists in Benue State.”
The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, had on International Women’s Day charged women to always contribute their entrepreneurial skills to the country’s development while urging them to use the immense potential within the tourism sector to showcase their talents, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Buttressing her points in the statement, the minister said, “The EcoGenesis Incubator is a tailored Nigerian tourism enterprise development program designed specifically for women and youth residing in the heart of tourist host communities.
“Through targeted training and empowerment initiatives conducted in rural areas across Nigeria, this program aims to facilitate the emergence of local tourism businesses and service offerings, fostering sustainable development in the country.”
“We are dedicated to forging partnerships with key stakeholders, including the private sector, state governments, and local communities, to cultivate distinctive Nigerian tourism offerings and elevate Nigeria as a premier tourism destination.”
The EcoGenesis Incubator series will empower people with occupational skills and eventually lift many out of poverty by harnessing touristy opportunities inherent in tourist host communities.
In the coming weeks, the EcoGenesis Incubator programmes will be delivered in a series across the 36 States and the FCT with increasing trainees and empowerment packages
