The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has assured the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) of the Federal Government’s support for its newly established Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN).

Mustapha described the establishment of the institute as relevant to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The ERGP, according to Mustapha, who spoke on Tuesday at the take-off of the HIN at the Hajj House, Abuja, envisions sustained inclusive growth and structural economic transformation.

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The SGF, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, in the Office of the SGF, Aliyu Mohammed, said the establishment of the institute by NAHCON would inject professionalism into the Nigerian hajj and umrah sector and create skilled manpower and jobs for the teeming youths.

“This is a core goal of the ERGP of job creation, youth empowerment and improved human capital,” the SGF, who oversees NAHCON, said.

Mustapha said the launch of the first professional certificate programme of the HIN was designed to enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s hajj officials, fill the skills gap in the economy and ensure the effective management of the country’s annual pilgrimage to the holy land.

“This is a critical step towards ensuring that our hajj operations are at par with international best practices, and our pilgrims receive the highest quality of services during their journey,” he added.

The chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said with the economic potential of hajj and umrah, it was time stakeholders in the industry leveraged the opportunities therein with a view to making significant contributions to the Nigerian economy.

 

Hassan submitted that Allah ordained hajj and also permitted trade during the spiritual exercise, adding that HIN would play a key role in exploring the economic potentials that abound in the hajj and umrah sector.

While expressing the hope that the birth of HIN will serve as added impetus to NAHCON’s quest for sustainable hajj management system in Nigeria, the chairman said it would play a critical role in ensuring that the country reaches the forefront of excellence in the global hajj and umrah industry.

He said: “We recognise the economic potentials of hajj and umrah and it is time for us to leverage these opportunities and make them significant contributors to Nigeria’s economy.

“Allah SWT ordained hajj and in doing so, made special mention of the permissibility of trade during hajj.

“In view of this, the HIN will play a key role in exploring the economic potentials that abound in the sector which our businesses and teeming youths can explore.”

With the world rapidly advancing in technology, it is imperative that NAHCON keeps pace with these global trends, Hassan said, adding that it is necessary for the commission to refocus its strategies and embrace the latest advancements in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

He added: “Management of hajj in modern times has gone beyond the trial by error system we were used to. With the help of ICT, operational activities have been propelled to a more efficient level with near-zero room for mistakes which needs the right skilled manpower to run

“The Saudi Vision 2030, which all hajj entities across the globe need to align to, has placed a high premium on excellent pilgrims’ services driven by ICT.

“It is for this reason that the HIN will provide a platform for training and research on various aspects of hajj and umrah, including the use of technology to improve our operations and services.

“The birth of HIN and its commencement of academic activities will serve as added impetus to NAHCON’s quest for sustainable hajj management system in Nigeria.”

 

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