Following necessary accreditation and approval by relevant authorities, the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN), midwifed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has officially commenced full training on Hajj and Umrah management by admitting 21 students for its professional certificate programme.
The 21 pioneer students, who are members of the current board of NAHCON, are to undergo four-week training on strategic management of Hajj and Umrah Operations for award of certificate of the institute.
Speaking at the official launching of the institute on Tuesday in Abuja, the chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, said the Institute was established, among other things, to improve the quality of manpower in the Hajj and Umrah sector in Nigeria to be at par with global industry standards; train and certify all employees in the sector; develop and liaise with relevant bodies, occupational standards for the Hajj and Umrah professionals in Nigeria and provide an avenue for skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development of Nigerian youth.
Hassan said the 4th board of the NAHCON had chosen to be the pioneer students of the institute not only because of its confidence in the quality of the programmes but to also commence the process of taking Hajj and Umrah to the next level.
According to him, the Saudi Vision 2030, which all Hajj entities across the globe needed to align with, has placed a high premium on excellent pilgrim services driven by ICT, saying it was for this reason that the Hajj Institute of Nigeria will provide a platform for training and research on various aspects of hajj and umrah, including the use of technology to improve their operations and services.
“Therefore, the birth of the institute marks the commencement of academic activities which will serve as added impetus to NAHCON’s quest for a sustainable hajj management system in Nigeria.
“It is my strong belief that me and my colleagues in the board will emerge from this programme more educated and better prepared to steer the affairs of Hajj in Nigeria,” Hassan said.
The executive secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, who was a special guest at the unveiling of the institute, said the Minister of Education granted the Hajj Institute of Nigeria approval, effective March 9, 2022, to operate as an Innovation Enterprise Institution (IEI) offering National Innovation Diploma (NID) in Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Computer Studies and other related courses.
He said the institute was also advised to sponsor the development of the National Innovation Diploma (NID) curriculum in Hajj Operations as it relates directly to the mandate of the NAHCON.
While urging the Hajj institute to conduct research into hajj operations past, present and future, Prof. Bugaje assured that the NBTE looks forward to greater collaboration with the young but promising Institute to develop more curricula relevant to the Hajj operations as well as National Occupational Standards (NOS) for skills training on Hajj management.
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