TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT EDUCATORS: AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR STUDENTS INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE. (A CASE STUDY OF IDAH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF KOGI STATE)

This study examined Training and Development of Hospitality Management Educators as an Effective Strategy for Students’ Industrial Performance, focusing on tertiary institutions in Idah Local Government Area, Kogi State. The research was motivated by the growing need for hospitality educators to possess up-to-date industry knowledge and pedagogical skills to adequately prepare students for industrial placements. A survey research design was adopted, and structured questionnaires were administered to 115 hospitality educators, achieving a 100% retrieval rate. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Findings revealed a divided perception regarding the adequacy and relevance of existing training programs, with 50% of respondents agreeing that such programs are available and 53.92% affirming their alignment with current industry demands. A majority (60%) identified significant challenges hindering educator development, including inadequate funding, limited institutional support, and irregular exposure to industry trends. Importantly, 78.26% of respondents agreed there is a direct link between educator training and students’ industrial performance, while 79.13% confirmed that students perform better when guided by well-trained educators. The hypothesis tests showed no statistically significant evidence of uniform implementation of structured training programs across institutions, but confirmed a significant relationship between educator professional development and student industrial performance. The study concludes that targeted, well-funded, and regularly updated training programs for hospitality management educators substantially enhance students’ preparedness for industrial work. It recommends policy-driven frameworks to standardize educator development, strengthen industry-academia collaborations, and improve funding for continuous professional development. Implementing these strategies could bridge the academia-industry gap, improve instructional quality, and produce graduates who meet the dynamic demands of the hospitality sector.