The Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) has partnered with the Kwara State University (KWASU) to improve tourism knowledge in students.
The agreement was reached when members of NATOP visited the Tourism and Hospitality Management Department of the university, on Friday, as part of activities for the association’s ongoing Eight Annual General Meeting and conference in Ilorin.
Alhaja Bolaji Mustapha, National President of NATOP, said the partnership was to enable the association expose the students to the practical aspect of the university’s tourism curriculum.
“We are aware that you take these students through the theoretical aspect of the curriculum, we want to come in, as professionals, to expose the students to the practicals of all they are taught.
“We want the partnership to move the tourism industry forward, exposing them to the practicals will boost their comprehension and at the long run impact our industry positively.
“The partnership has started and we will take it to another level,” she said.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, appreciated the association for the visit.
Jimoh, who was represented by Prof. Emmanual Ajani, Director, Academic Planning, described the university as a unique citadel of learning with the best library because of the quality of academic materials there.
“We welcome you to Kwara state and KWASU in specific. As a university, we pride ourselves as having the best library in Africa.
“We have been able to achieve a lot by our own initiative and with the help from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
“We are happy to have you around and we will be glad to work with you,” he said.