A professor at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Bassey Esu, has called for the introduction of Hospitality Studies as a separate subject in Nigeria’s secondary school curriculum.
He made this proposal while delivering UNICAL’s 136th inaugural lecture titled “Hospitality-Centric Philosophy: The Spirit and Soul of Destination Product and the Piggyback of Development” in Calabar.
Esu also recommended the unbundling of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the university level, advocating for a dedicated Hospitality Department to reflect its growing significance.
According to the professor of Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism Marketing & Management, hospitality is not just a profession but a fundamental human orientation with vast socio-economic impacts.
He emphasized that teaching it at the secondary level would help students develop essential life skills and professional competencies early.
“Hospitality is the practice of honoring and protecting strangers while they are away from home. It is a behavior, attitude, and orientation found in every human endeavor.”
He further stressed the need to incorporate Hospitality Management as a distinct program in the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) at the university level.
Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Florence Obi, lauded Esu’s dedication and expertise in the field of hospitality and tourism. She assured that the university’s management would consider implementing some of his recommendations.
Obi also encouraged senior academics to prepare for their inaugural lectures, describing it as a vital academic milestone.
With tourism and hospitality playing a critical role in global economies, Esu’s proposal could be a game-changer for Nigeria’s education and workforce development. The call for a standalone Hospitality Department and its inclusion in secondary schools now awaits policy action.