The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced a two-day professional training programme for licensed Hajj and Umrah tour operators in Kano and Lagos to improve service delivery, strengthen regulatory compliance and enhance pilgrims’ welfare ahead of the 2027 Hajj.
The programme, titled Professional Certificate Programme in Hajj/Umrah Operations and Pilgrim Service Management, is organised by the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) in collaboration with the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) and the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators Association of Nigeria (HUTON).
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Declaring the programme open, NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, said the training was designed to prepare Nigerian operators for emerging changes in the global Hajj industry, particularly reforms under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the growing adoption of a business-to-business (B2B) model.
He explained that the reforms were expected to increase private-sector participation in Hajj operations, requiring Nigerian operators to develop the professional competence and operational capacity needed to assume greater responsibilities.
Ambassador Yusuf disclosed that NAHCON had secured a three-year phased transition arrangement with Saudi authorities, beginning with 30 per cent private-sector participation in 2027.
He said the arrangement would provide an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s regulatory framework and prepare operators for the gradual transition.
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The NAHCON chairman urged participants to maintain high professional standards, stressing that pilgrims’ welfare must take precedence over commercial interests.
He also highlighted the importance of professional certification, digital transformation and effective regulatory oversight in improving the efficiency and accountability of Hajj and Umrah operations.
In his remarks, Rector of the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, Professor Muhammad Nasirudeen Maiturare, described professional training as essential to effective pilgrimage management in an increasingly competitive and demanding global environment.
Professor Maiturare emphasised the need for operators to acquire skills in corporate governance, risk management, operational coordination and international service standards to meet pilgrims’ expectations.
He highlighted the institute’s academic programmes, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Hajj Operations Management in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a National Diploma in Hospitality and Hajj Management in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education.
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The training features sessions on professional ethics, integrated operations management, lessons from the 2026 Hajj, leadership, conflict resolution, pilgrims’ welfare and collaboration with Saudi service providers.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the preparedness of Nigerian Hajj and Umrah operators for the 2027 pilgrimage and support efforts to build a more professional, competitive and pilgrim-centred industry.