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Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism & Creative Economy and special guest of honour, at the forum.
The 8th International Hospitality, Tourism, and Eco-Sustainability Forum (IHTEF 8.0) is set to convene Africa’s foremost voices in hospitality, tourism, and sustainable development for a two-day summit focused on shaping a green, resilient, and investment-ready hospitality sector.
Organised by Hotel Human Capital Strategy and Sustainable Eco6tems, IHTEF 8.0 will be held from May 23–24, 2025, at Abuja Continental Hotel, under the theme:“Innovation, Investment, Security & Sustainability.”
This year’s forum presents a bold agenda centered on investment facilitation, ESG domestication, de-carbonization, and the adoption of circular hospitality models—all critical to repositioning Nigeria’s hospitality sector as a global benchmark for sustainable growth.
The key highlights will include: an opening ceremony by Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism & Creative Economy, who is also the Special Guest of Honour.
Other highlights are: “Northern Horizons” a special session to be chaired by Mohammed Umar Bago, governor of Niger State. It will be focused on unlocking the tourism and hospitality potential of Northern Nigeria through sustainable investment, regional infrastructure, and eco-tourism.
Read also: Nigeria to reposition tourism sector with Destination 2030 initiative – Musawa
As well, Patience Fakai, Commissioner for Business & Innovation Technology, Kaduna State, will present a guest lecture on Kaduna State’s sub-national blueprint for tourism-led economic growth, hospitality innovation, and green policy execution.
There would be an investment roundtable led by Apiyo Aloo (Kenya), managing partner at Ankara & Lustar Advisory, convening capital market leaders, regulators, hotel developers, and financial institutions to explore climate finance, hospitality risk mitigation, and capital unlocking strategies.
Notable keynote speakers at the forum include: Ahmed Reza, district director, Radisson Hotel Group, Nigeria Region; Trevor Ward, managing director, W Hospitality Group; and Karl Hala, group general manager, Continental Hotels Nigeria.
The two-day gathering will also feature capacity building, competitions and talent development, including: IHTEF Bartenders Academy, supported by Nigeria Bottling Company; National Bed-Making Championship for Housekeepers; and workshops on sustainable hotel operations and ESG implementation.
However, target participants include: hotel developers, operators & investors, hospitality executives, GMs and supervisors, policymakers and sub-national leaders. Others are: sustainability experts and ESG officers, development institutions and investment agencies, tourism associations, academia and the media.
Endorsed by W Hospitality, NIHOTOUR, FTAN, and ATHCON, IHTEF 8.0 is more than a forum—it is a continental movement to future-proof the hospitality industry through collaboration, policy innovation, and environmental responsibility.
Meanwhile, the forum’s supporting partners include: Abuja Continental Hotel, Moniepoint, Simba DEN, Shelter Suites & Hotels, Kaldi Africa, Nigeria Bottling Company, Avoir Voltic, and the Chefs Association of Nigeria.
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