Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director-General (D-G), National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), says the gastronomy festival is the fastest growing food and cultural event in Africa.
Kangiwa said this on Thursday in Abuja, while speaking on the Gastronomy Festival 2023, slated to hold on June 17.
NAN reports that gastronomy is the art or science of good eating, culinary customs or style.
The D-G said the festival was conceptualized to up-skill Nigerian gastronomes and other operators in Hospitality and Tourism sectors on the nitty-gritty of processing, preparation, presentation, packaging and promotion of foods, beverages and traditional cuisines.
He said that the over-riding objective of the institute on the festival, slated to hold in Abuja, was to keep improving the expertise of personnel in the hospitality industry.
He added that the objective also aimed at positioning Nigeria better as the `Mecca’ of ‘Gastronomy Tourism in Africa.
Kangiwa said that countries such as China, Trinidad & Tobago, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, among others, had confirmed their participation in the festival, to showcase their cuisines and beverages.
“Some leading Nigerian allied-food and beverage brands such as Dano Milk, Danone and Delifrost, have confirmed their participation in the Gastronomy Festival.
“I am confident that more embassies in Nigeria and leading food and beverage brands, will participate in the festival to showcase their brands come June 17,” he said.
NIHOTOUR is established by an Act of Parliament to train, certify and register personnel in Nigeria’s Hospitality, Travel and Tourism sectors.
The Institute started operations in 1988, following a tripartite agreement involving the Federal Government, the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Over the years, it has emerged as Nigeria’s leading Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institute, with 10 campuses across the country.
It is equally the coordinator of Nigeria’s pacesetting Hospitality and Tourism Sectors Skills Council of Nigeria (HTSSCN).
