In his bid to explore the benefits of tourism as a potential driver of economic growth, Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri has appointed Comrade Piriye Kiyaramo as his new Senior Special Assistant [SSA] on Tourism.
In a letter dated August 30, 2021, by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr, Konbowei Friday Benson, effective from August 12, 2021, Gov. Diri stated that: “It is expected that you will serve the state in this capacity loyally, and with a high sense of patriotism, proficiency and diligence”.
Comrade Kiyaramo, popularly known as “Mr Tourism”, is a certified hospitality industry master trainer and holds a Nigerian Tourism Specialist certificate from the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism [NIHOTOUR], Abuja.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical and Health Education from the University of Port Harcourt and a Diploma in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism [IIJ], Abuja.
He was appointed secretary of the West Africa Tourism Union Tourism Masterplan Drafting Committee inaugurated in Lome, Togo 2007. Piriye Kiyaramo is the pioneer Deputy Rector of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa as well as Niger Delta Regional Liaison Officer/Media consultant of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Brig. Gen Paul Boroh retired.
He is the initiator and pioneer chairman of the Travel Writers Corps of the Nigeria Union of Journalists [NUJ], Bayelsa State Council, as well as Interim South-South Coordinator of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria [ATPN]. He was one time South South zonal secretary of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria [FTAN] as well as served as South-South Zonal Vice Chairman of FTAN in the last zonal executive.
To his credit, Comrade Piriye Kiyaramo drafted the bill establishing the Bayelsa State Institute of Catering and Hotel Management, which has transformed into the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality. Until his current appointment, he served as consulting technical adviser to the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism.