German Language Training and Professional Development for Nigerian Tourism Managers in Abuja

This study examines the impact of structured German language training on professional development outcomes among tourism management professionals in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, within the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Tourism managers increasingly require multilingual communication skills to attract high-value visitors from German-speaking markets, yet professional German language training programmes tailored to the tourism industry remain scarce in Nigeria. The study adopts a mixed-methods design, combining pre- and post-training proficiency assessments with semi-structured interviews conducted with 60 tourism managers who participated in a twelve-week professionally oriented German language programme delivered through a partnership between a federal polytechnic and the Goethe-Institut. Quantitative data measure proficiency gains across speaking, listening, and writing dimensions, while qualitative data explore perceived relevance, motivation, and workplace application. Findings indicate significant proficiency gains, particularly in functional oral communication, and high levels of participant satisfaction with the professional orientation of the training. However, the transfer of language skills to actual workplace practice is reported as inconsistent, constrained by limited authentic interaction with German-speaking clients. The study recommends the development of industry-specific German language modules co-designed with tourism employers and the integration of German language criteria into professional certification frameworks for tourism management in Nigeria. Keywords: German language training, tourism management, professional development, Abuja, multilingual competence.