The immediate past Commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Barr. Jerry Egemba, has charged hospitality practitioners in Nigeria to uphold professional ethics and embrace innovation as a pathway to sustainable growth in the sector.
Egemba, who currently serves as the Commissioner for Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals, gave the charge at the 2025 Hospitality Summit themed “Innovate, Surge, Thrive”, organized by Edensprime Hospitality in collaboration with the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria. The event held on 29th November, 2025 at Immaculate Excellence Hotel, Owerri.
Describing the theme as timely, Egemba commended the organisers for convening a summit he considered crucial for repositioning the hospitality industry. He highlighted key challenges confronting the sector, including inadequate vision among operators, poor value creation, low innovation, insufficient staff training, and declining adherence to ethical standards.
According to him, “The hospitality sector has the potential to become a major source of revenue for government—something that could take over from oil and gas. When you add tourism and culture, you see a strong revenue-yielding sector for Imo State.”
Egemba emphasized that the summit’s theme captures the essentials that investors and professionals must adopt in order to build a vibrant and sustainable hospitality ecosystem.
“In framing this theme, the organisers are simply telling us that we cannot optimize our hospitality industry unless we innovate in line with present realities and surge ahead with multi-dimensional impact,” he stated.
He further noted that innovation in the hospitality industry involves integrating technology, strategies, and creative processes that improve customer experience, enhance operational efficiency, and meet evolving market demands.
Speaking on ethical standards, Egemba urged practitioners to remain sensitive to customer needs and uphold quality service delivery. “If I visit your hotel and ask for food, and all you can offer is indomie, it means you are not sensitive to customer needs,” he said.
He also condemned the prevalence of poorly prepared meals and the use of expired or unhealthy ingredients, which often result in customers experiencing discomfort after meals.
Egemba recommended continuous training, constant updating of industry knowledge, and a commitment to innovation as key solutions. He noted that a lack of innovation could derail progress for practitioners and the industry at large.
The commissioner, who described the event as a farewell programme marking his exit from the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, assured stakeholders that he remains a committed participant and supporter of the hospitality sector.
The summit featured keynote speakers including Mr. Olugbenga Sunday, a renowned tourism and hospitality expert; Joe Amuneke, a leading hospitality and QSR consultant; Engr. Chibuike Diala, hospitality strategist, author, and development advocate; and Mr. Uzochukwu Elui, an award-winning hospitality entrepreneur and brand builder. Their presentations transitioned into a panel session where they engaged guests on challenges and prospects for the sector.
A major highlight of the event was the induction of over 50 chefs as members of the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria. The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Chef Paulinus Okon, President of the Association, and supervised by Mr. Uzochukwu Elui.
The summit concluded with the official launch of “Career Compass in Hospitality: Guiding the Next Generation of Hospitality Leaders”, unveiled by Lady Chidubem Sylvester, a distinguished capacity development expert and CEO of Edensprime Global Enterprise.
Report By Fredrick Njoku