Diageo Nigeria has graduated 300 participants from the inaugural cohort of its Learning for Life hospitality and tourism skills programme [1].
The initiative aims to tackle youth unemployment in Lagos by providing professional pathways into the service sector. By equipping young Nigerians with specialized vocational training, the program seeks to bridge the gap between available labor and industry needs in the hospitality and tourism markets.
Diageo Nigeria executed the program in partnership with Celebr-8 Lyfe, the Lagos State Ministry of Employment and Wealth Creation, and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund [1]. The collaboration combined corporate resources with government oversight to ensure the training aligned with regional economic goals.
The program focused on empowering participants with the practical skills necessary to secure employment in a competitive tourism landscape [1]. This effort is part of a broader strategy to create sustainable employment pathways for young people in Nigeria.
While the inaugural cohort saw 300 graduates [1], other reports indicate varying targets for future iterations of the project. Some sources suggest that no fewer than 500 youths will benefit from subsequent training [2], while other projections for a 2025 edition target the empowerment of 250 youths [3].
The training took place in Lagos, where the demand for skilled hospitality workers remains high. The graduation marks the completion of the first cycle of the Learning for Life curriculum, which is designed to transition students from classroom learning to active professional roles in the hospitality sector [1].
“Diageo Nigeria has graduated 300 participants from the inaugural cohort of its Learning for Life hospitality and tourism skills programme”
This partnership between a multinational corporation and the Lagos State government signals a shift toward public-private vocational training to combat systemic unemployment. By focusing on the hospitality and tourism sector, the program targets a high-growth industry that can absorb large numbers of unskilled workers, potentially stabilizing local youth employment rates if future cohorts reach the projected targets of 250 to 500 participants.
