The Federal Government has trained and empowered 100 young Nigerians in culinary and hospitality skills under the Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS-TVET) initiative, in a renewed push to tackle youth unemployment and close critical industry skills gaps.
The six-month programme, implemented by Masterminds Catering and Culinary Institute Academy in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank, combined classroom instruction with hands-on industry experience, designed to improve employability and support entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Khadijat Fashina, said the academy was established to respond to the shortage of skilled professionals in the hospitality and catering sector.
“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.
Fashina said the training structure was deliberately designed to ensure that participants acquire both theoretical knowledge and real-world practical exposure.
“At the end of the programme, they are better positioned to either start their own businesses or become more employable,” she added.
She explained that the participants were trained under the National Skills Qualification Framework, ensuring standardised, competency-based certification.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the President on Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Ayomide Adeagbo, said the initiative reflects the government’s growing focus on skills-driven employment in an evolving global economy.
“The world is moving beyond traditional nine-to-five jobs. Skills and talent now matter a lot, and that is why the government is investing in programmes like this to empower young people,” he said.
Adeagbo noted that the programme forms part of broader efforts to equip Nigerians with practical skills across multiple sectors, adding that post-training support mechanisms have been built into the initiative.
“We are not just training people and leaving them. There are follow-up plans, including access to funding through initiatives like the Creative Economy Development Fund, which will help beneficiaries start and grow their businesses,” he said.
The National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS-TVET initiative at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, commended the trainees for their commitment and urged them to maximise the opportunity.
“We want you to count yourselves fortunate. Not everyone has access to this kind of opportunity,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Patience Anaja, described the training as transformative.
“I’ve always loved being in the kitchen. When I saw this opportunity, I knew it was a chance to do what I truly enjoy,” she said.
She added that the programme had strengthened both her practical skills and entrepreneurial capacity, while calling for its expansion to reach more young Nigerians.
The intervention comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with high youth unemployment and a widening mismatch between available labour and industry-ready skills, with sectors such as hospitality, tourism and creative services increasingly seen as key drivers of job creation.
