The Federal Government has trained and empowered 100 young Nigerians under the Innovation, Development, and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills initiative to strengthen skills in the hospitality and culinary sector.

The six-month training was implemented by the Masterminds Catering and Culinary Institute in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria, and the World Bank.

At the graduation ceremony in Abuja, CEO of the institute, Khadijat Fashina, said the programme was designed to bridge major skills gaps in the hospitality industry and improve employability.

She explained that participants received both classroom instruction and hands-on industry experience, making them better prepared for entrepreneurship or employment.

The Special Assistant to the President on Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Ayomide Adeagbo, said the initiative reflects a shift toward skills-driven employment and added that beneficiaries would be supported through funding schemes such as the Creative Economy Development Fund.

The National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS-TVET initiative, Blessing Ogwu, urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity and focus on entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on salaried jobs.

One of the beneficiaries, Patience Anaja, described the programme as transformative, saying it helped her turn her passion for cooking into a viable career path.

The initiative is part of broader government efforts to address youth unemployment by promoting vocational and technical skills in Nigeria’s growing hospitality and creative sectors.