LunagisthubFederal Government Empowers 100 Nigerian Youths with High-Demand Hospitality Skills
In a major move to fight youth unemployment and bridge Nigeria’s skills gap, the Federal Government has successfully trained and empowered 100 young Nigerians in culinary and hospitality services. The six-month programme ran under the Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS)_ initiative, a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education, World Bank, and Masterminds Catering and Culinary Institute (MCCI).
Hosted in Abuja, the training combined intensive classroom sessions with real-world industry experience. Graduates were certified under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), which means their skills meet standardized, competency-based requirements recognized nationwide.
According to MCCI CEO, Khadijat Fashina, the academy was created specifically to solve a shortage of skilled professionals hurting hospitality businesses. “I discovered there was a major skills gap in the industry, and that was affecting many entrepreneurs. That is why we decided to focus on bridging that gap,” she said at the closing ceremony on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
make every participant either job-ready or equipped to launch their own catering, baking, or hospitality business immediately after graduation.
Government isn’t stopping at training. Ayomide Adeagbo, Special Assistant to the President on Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, stressed that the world is shifting from traditional 9-to-5 jobs to skill-based income. “Skills and talent now matter a lot, and that is why the government is investing in programmes like this to empower young people,” he noted.
To ensure sustainability, beneficiaries will get post-training support including access to funding through initiatives like the _Creative Economy Development Fund_. This gives graduates capital to start and scale their businesses instead of being trained and abandoned.
“Policy and funding are the foundation for growth. We have created both to ensure that young Nigerians can thrive in the creative and skills economy,” Adeagbo added.
Hospitality and catering are high-growth sectors with constant demand for skilled staff in hotels, restaurants, and events.
Certified skills + access to funding = more youth-owned SMEs, which drive GDP.
NSQF certification means employers can trust the quality of training, making graduates more employable locally and abroad.
Mrs Blessing Ogwu, National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS-TVET initiative, praised the trainees for their dedication and urged them to maximize the opportunity.
If you’re looking for practical, income-generating skills, the hospitality and creative economy is where government support is flowing. Watch for the next batch of IDEAS skill acquisition programmes via the Federal Ministry of Education. With the right training plus funding access, your 9-to-5 alternative could start in a kitchen.
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