In a move that has left the tourism sector either scratching their heads or rolling their eyes, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed a fresh face as the Director-General of NIHOTOUR—someone whose experience in tourism is as nonexistent as a unicorn at a business meeting. But fear not, dear practitioners! This is not an oversight; it’s a bold strategy. Why delve into the mundane world of experience when you can simply pluck a “green horn” from the ether?
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the dichotomy of the past. When the well-esteemed Alhaji Nura Kangiwa—an actual tourism practitioner—was chosen for the same role, the industry collectively threw a tantrum that would rival a toddler denied candy. So, can we honestly blame our beloved President for taking a scenic detour into the uncharted waters of non-practitioners this time around? Logic suggests he’s merely trying to sidestep more inevitable protests, trading one headache for an entirely different (and perhaps slightly less familiar) kind of malfunction.
Ah, but “green horn”! What a delightful term! Is there a secret manual somewhere that defines what qualifies as a “green horn”? Or is it simply the absence of tourism-related credentials? Gosh, who knew that openness to fresh ideas would come with a side of skepticism? After all, how are we to know whether the latest appointee—armed with nothing but naïveté and a can-do attitude—won’t work utter magic over seasoned veterans who, let’s face it, might as well be waving walking sticks and sporting retirement home T-shirts?
Here’s the truth: perhaps it’s time to give “green horns” a chance. Perhaps their inexperience can lead to innovative approaches no one has ever dreamed of—like turning local tourism into an extreme sport! Or maybe they’ll totally reinvent the meaning of hospitality by declaring that guests serve themselves while they watch from a comfy chair (acceptable if they serve craft cocktails, right?).
So here’s to the appointed “green horn” at NIHOTOUR! May their fresh ideas flow like the rivers of our nation, and may they navigate the murky waters of tourism with the grace of a swan rather than the clumsiness of a newly hatched duck. Let’s raise our glasses to the unpredictable future of tourism led by someone who’s completely unburdened by the chains of experience. Cheers!
