Nigeria has officially marked its return to the forefront of regional tourism development following its active participation in the ECOWAS Standards Technical Committee for Tourism and Related Services (THC6).
The meeting, held in Lomé, Togo, from February 17th to 20th, 2026, signals the end of a three-year passive period for the nation within the committee.
Nigeria was represented at ECOWAS Standards Technical Committee by Professor Wasiu Babalola, a Professor of Hotel Management and Tourism and the Chairperson of the National Technical/Mirror Committee on Tourism and Related Services.
The THC6 is currently developing a comprehensive suite of Tourism Standards aimed at harmonization across ECOWAS member states.
These standards are expected to streamline operations and enhance service delivery within the Nigerian tourism sector upon final adoption.
The Committee formally welcomed the Nigerian delegation, acknowledging the strategic importance of Nigeria’s return to active participation after three years.
Nigeria has been nominated to a specialized subcommittee alongside Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
This trio will lead the development of standardized signage for tourism establishment star ratings, which will be implemented across all ECOWAS member states to ensure regional consistency.
The development of these regional standards is set to simplify regulatory frameworks and elevate the quality of tourism services provided locally.
A comprehensive update will be presented to the Technical Committee (TC) during the coming week.
This briefing will include a detailed video presentation to explain the technical activities and standards discussed in Togo, providing a foundation for the agenda of the next TC meeting.
The Nigerian representative to THC6 expressed optimism regarding the collaboration: “Our involvement in the signage subcommittee is a testament to Nigeria’s leadership role in the region. I will be reverting to the TC for critical inputs at the appropriate time to ensure our national interests are reflected in these new international benchmarks.”
Further details regarding the specific signage standards and the timeline for ECOWAS-wide adoption will be shared as the subcommittee’s work progresses.
ECOSHAM THC6 (Technical Harmonization Committee 6) is a specialized committee within the ECOWAS Standards Harmonization Model, specifically focused on setting regional quality, safety, tourism accommodation grading & classification and operational standards for the Tourism and related services sector.
