Don Advocates Introduction of Hospitality Studies in Secondary Schools
By: Olanrewaju Babatunde
A lecturer in the University of Calabar, Professor Bassey Esu, has advocated the introduction of a basic course called hospitality studies in secondary schools across Nigeria.
He made the call while delivering the institution’s 136th inaugural lecture entitled ‘Hospitality-Centric Philosophy: the Spirit and Soul of Destination Product and the Piggyback of Development’, yesterday in Calabar.
Esu, who also recommended the unbundling of the department of Hospitality and Tourism Management in UNICAL to pave the way for hospitality department as well as the introduction of hospitality as a general course in the university curriculum, said these measures will help to build the required manpower in the hospitality sub-sector.
According to the professor of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Marketing and Management, the introduction of hospitality course at the secondary level became imperative due to the crucial role hospitality plays in every human endeavor.
He described hospitality as a behavior as well as an orientation having the potential to improve the socio-economic status of Nigerians.
“To enhance visitors’ experience, we should invest in hospitable behavior and standardized service delivery.
“Ironically, at the moment, we only have a course called tourism study in the secondary school which is insufficient. So, there is the need for us to recommend that there should be a course called hospitality study as well.
“At the tertiary level, an all-round hospitality couse should be introduced as part of our general study courses in the university.
“Hospitality teaches us how to love. So, I am recommending that a course called hospitality study should be introduced as a general course in the university for all set of students.
“Furthermore, a standalone progamme in hospitality management is recommended for inclusion in the CCMAS (Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards) in the university of Calabar because the department of hospitality and tourism management as presently constituted is quite humongous”, Esu stated in part..
In her goodwill message, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi, commended the foresight and dedication of Prof. Esu towards his career path, both within and outside the university community.
Obi, who chaired the occasion, expressed the management’s readiness to implement some of the recommendations originated from the inaugural lecture.
