Investment in Hospitality Education Key to Addressing Youth Unemployment in Nigeria, Says YABATECH HOD, Hospitality Management Technology.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising youth unemployment and an ever-changing labour market, greater investment in hospitality education, vocational training, and industry partnerships will be critical to preparing young Nigerians for meaningful careers and driving economic growth.
This was the central message from the Head of the Department of Hospitality Management at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mrs. Aninoritse Sophia Anyafulu, during her appearance on Episode Four of the UNCORK-NG Podcast.
The episode, themed “Building Nigeria’s Future Hospitality Professionals Through Education, Industry and Innovation,” explored the evolving role of hospitality education in shaping a new generation of skilled professionals capable of competing both locally and globally.
Drawing from over 33 years of professional and academic experience, Mrs. Anyafulu challenged common misconceptions about the hospitality profession, highlighting its diversity, career opportunities, and growing relevance in today’s economy.
According to Mrs. Anyafulu, one of the greatest obstacles facing hospitality education in Nigeria is the limited understanding many people have about the profession.
She noted that hospitality is often wrongly perceived as a discipline focused solely on cooking or food service, when in reality it encompasses management, finance, customer service, tourism, entrepreneurship, event management, accommodation services, and several other specialized areas.
“You know a lot of people think hospitality is all about cooking, but a graduate from the hospitality department can work at a bank because we do accounts in hospitality. We can produce hotel managers too—hotel managers who understand the right quantity to use to prepare food in a hotel and know how to handle the accounts of the hotel,” she said.
She explained that the curriculum offered by hospitality departments equips students with practical and managerial competencies that prepare them for leadership positions across multiple industries.
Beyond hotels and restaurants, graduates can find rewarding careers in banking, aviation, tourism, healthcare, event management, education, entrepreneurship, and customer experience management.
Mrs. Anyafulu emphasized that hospitality education is built around problem-solving, organization, communication, teamwork, and service excellence—qualities that employers increasingly value regardless of industry.
She noted that these transferable skills have enabled many hospitality professionals to thrive in leadership positions outside the traditional hospitality space.
Reflecting on her own professional journey spanning more than three decades, she described hospitality as a profession that opens doors to diverse career opportunities while nurturing leadership and administrative competence.
“There are more exciting opportunities in the hospitality sector, even in the academic environment. I’ve been in charge of Quality Assurance before because of my experience in the hospitality space.
Of course, I’m the Head of the Department, and I’ve also been involved in many decision-making processes. Hospitality teaches you how to be organized. Hospitality teaches service because you have to deal with people,” she said.
She added that the human-centered nature of hospitality equips graduates with emotional intelligence, professionalism, and organizational skills that make them highly adaptable to different work environments. According to her, these qualities have become increasingly important in today’s service-driven economy, where customer satisfaction and operational efficiency often determine business success.
Speaking on the future of hospitality education in Nigeria, Mrs. Anyafulu called for greater commitment from government, private organizations, and industry stakeholders to strengthen vocational and technical education. She stressed that while classroom instruction remains important, practical exposure through internships and industry collaborations is essential if graduates are to meet the expectations of employers immediately after graduation.
“The Hospitality Department needs more investment. We need more internships in hotels where students can learn firsthand, so that when they go into the labour market some basic things won’t be so new to the graduates. Also, sponsorships from big baking firms will be nice. They can partner with hospitality departments to provide cooking utensils and appliances, which will help produce professionals who will indeed take the hospitality sector in Nigeria and even on an international scale,” she said.
She explained that stronger collaboration between educational institutions and private sector organizations would significantly improve students’ practical knowledge while exposing them to current industry standards, modern equipment, and emerging trends.
Such partnerships, she noted, would also help bridge the long-standing gap between classroom learning and workplace expectations.
Further underscoring the importance of industry collaboration, Mrs. Anyafulu disclosed that Yaba College of Technology is currently working towards establishing a strategic partnership with **LWS Wine Academy**, Nigeria’s first wine academy. The proposed collaboration is expected to introduce specialized education in wines and spirits, an area that continues to experience growing demand within the hospitality industry.
According to her, the partnership will expose students to structured professional training, internationally relevant certifications, and internship opportunities that will prepare both undergraduate students and graduates for careers in the wines and spirits sector.
She noted that the initiative represents the kind of innovative collaboration capable of transforming hospitality education in Nigeria while equipping graduates with globally competitive skills.
She further observed that partnerships of this nature not only enhance students’ employability but also contribute to raising professional standards across the hospitality industry.
By bringing together academia and industry, institutions can produce graduates who are confident, industry-ready, and capable of driving innovation within Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
Throughout the conversation, Mrs. Anyafulu maintained that hospitality remains one of the country’s most promising sectors for employment generation, particularly for young people willing to develop practical skills and embrace continuous learning.
She encouraged policymakers, corporate organizations, and development partners to recognize hospitality education as a strategic investment capable of reducing unemployment while contributing to national economic development.
In her closing remarks, she offered words of encouragement to young Nigerians who may still be uncertain about pursuing careers in hospitality, urging them not to allow stereotypes about the profession to discourage them from exploring its vast opportunities.
“There is a lot for you here. The hospitality sector has a lot to offer, so remain steadfast, do your best, and never give up,” she said.
The episode of the UNCORK-NG Podcast reinforces the growing need for stronger collaboration between educational institutions, government, and industry stakeholders to reposition hospitality education as a catalyst for economic growth and youth empowerment.
As Nigeria seeks sustainable solutions to unemployment and workforce development, experts believe that increased investment in practical education, vocational training, and strategic partnerships will play a defining role in building a new generation of highly skilled hospitality professionals capable of competing on both national and international stages.
