Bayelsa Tourism Institute Matriculates second Batch of Diploma Students
It was an event of agog and beehive of activities when the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Bayelsa State rolled the red carpet and matriculated about eighty-five (85) students into the National Diploma Programmes on Saturday, 7th September 2024. Those matriculants cuts across seven departments,
The epoch making event marked the 2nd combined matriculation ceremony of the Institute for those undergoing the national diploma (ND) programme, admitted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 Academic Sessions.
The Governor of Bayelsa State also the visitor of the Institute, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri was ably represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah. According to the Governor, what the Institute needed was in the area of adequate professional training in the state to provide necessary skills and developmental programmes that will motivate Bayelsans to harness their potentiality in travels tourism, and hospitality in order to improve revenue generation efforts of the Bayelsa State Government through the diversification of the Local economy.
The Governor who noted with satisfaction that the Prosperity Government was more than ever committed to see that young people equipped through necessary educational programmes that could enhance the pace of economic growth and development of the State by giving priority to the Tourism and Hospitality sector.
Also speaking, Mrs. Payeboye Festus Lukoh, who is a Director from the ministry of Tourism Development, who stood in proxy for Honourable Commissioner of Tourism Development, Mr. John Alla, as the chairman of the occassion charged the matriculatants to take advantage of the opportunity as they represented a bulwark of the state’s Ambassadors of Tourism and Hospitality.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Rector of the Institute, Prof. Apuega Arikawei commended the state government for investing massively in the Institute especially in the provision of technical infrastructure to prepare the students to become employers of Labour.
Prof. Apuega Arikawei said the institute which started with just two (2) National Diploma programmes in Tourism Management Technology and Hospitality Management Technology now has five (5) additional programmes namely; Fashion Design and Clothing Technology, Public Administration, Business Administration, Accountancy, and Computer Science, making it Seven (7) National Diploma (ND) programmes.
Prof Arikawei thanked the Governor for his untiring efforts and commitment towards the education sector as it will go a long way to boost manpower development.
The event witnessed felicitations and good will messages from representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), The Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) as well as representative of tertiary institutions from Bayelsa State was attended by dignitaries from the academia also attracted tourism investors and people from all walks of Life.
