Abuja: The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) says it is studying the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)’s institutional framework to strengthen professionalism and reforms. FTAN President, Dr Aliyu Badaki, disclosed this during a visit by tourism stakeholders to the NSE National Headquarters in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the visit formed part of FTAN’s Tourism Transformation Mandate (TTM) to reposition Nigeria’s tourism sector. The initiative seeks improved governance, stronger institutions, enhanced professional standards, and comprehensive reforms capable of driving sustainable growth across the tourism industry.
Badaki said FTAN was examining the engineering profession’s operational structure to identify institutional practices supporting a coordinated, accountable, and professional tourism industry. He explained that both organisations function as umbrella bodies for professional associations, making the NSE’s institutional model particularly relevant to FTAN’s trans
formation agenda.
‘We are here to collaborate and learn from the Nigerian Society of Engineers because your institution has built a strong professional structure over the years. That structure continues to earn national and international recognition,’ Badaki said during the engagement with the engineering body. ‘We believe that learning from your experience will help us build a stronger framework that will benefit the tourism industry, businesses, and the nation’s economy,’ he added.
Badaki noted that FTAN’s transformation agenda aimed to restructure the tourism sector to deliver improved outcomes for operators, investors, and the wider Nigerian economy. He expressed concern over overlapping responsibilities among some tourism institutions, stating that duplication often weakens efficiency, accountability, and effective sectoral coordination. According to him, clearly defined responsibilities for regulators, professional bodies, and operators remain vital to strengthening professionalism and improving servi
ce delivery.
Responding, NSE President, Mr Ali Rabiu, commended FTAN for seeking lessons from an established professional institution to support tourism sector reforms. Rabiu said the NSE, established in 1958, had grown into a respected professional body through sound governance, collaboration, and sustained capacity development. He noted that engineering and tourism shared a natural relationship because engineers provide infrastructure supporting travel, hospitality, recreation, and destination development.
Rabiu explained that separating regulatory and professional responsibilities has strengthened engineering practice and institutional effectiveness throughout Nigeria’s engineering profession. He assured FTAN that the society remained willing to share its institutional experiences and collaborate towards building stronger tourism institutions nationwide.
The NSE Director of Professional Development, Mr Babatunde Odunlami, stressed the importance of collaboration among professional bodies across strategi
c sectors. Odunlami said sustained partnerships promote best practices, strengthen institutions, and improve professional capacity for long-term national development. He added that continuous engagement between the NSE and FTAN would support successful implementation of reforms within Nigeria’s evolving tourism industry.
FTAN First Deputy President, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, appreciated the NSE leadership for hosting the delegation and reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to strategic partnerships. She said collaboration with credible professional institutions would strengthen tourism development and accelerate implementation of reforms across the country.
NAN reports that participants described the engagement as an important milestone towards institutional collaboration and sustainable reforms within Nigeria’s tourism sector. The visit concluded with the exchange of commemorative gifts between the presidents of FTAN and NSE, symbolising their commitment to future collaborations.