By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

No fewer than 100 young Nigerians have graduated from a six-month culinary and hospitality training programme under the Federal Government-backed Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) initiative.

The programme, implemented by Masterminds Catering and Culinary Institute Academy with support from the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank, is aimed at reducing unemployment and closing skills gaps in the hospitality sector.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Khadijat Fashina, said the academy was established about five years ago to address the shortage of skilled professionals in catering and hospitality.

According to her, the programme combines three months of intensive classroom training with another three months of internship, giving participants practical experience and preparing them for entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

“At the end of the programme, they are better positioned to either start their own businesses or become more employable,” she said.

Fashina explained that trainees were taught under the National Skills Qualification Framework developed by the National Board for Technical Education, ensuring competency-based learning and certification.

Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the President on Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Ayomide Adeagbo, said the initiative reflected the government’s understanding of the changing global economy, where practical skills and talent now play a major role.

“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 was part of wider efforts to equip Nigerians across different sectors with practical skills capable of reducing unemployment and boosting economic growth.

He added that the government had put measures in place to support beneficiaries after the training, including access to funding through initiatives such as the Creative Economy Development Fund.

“We are not just training people and leaving them. There are follow-up plans, including access to funding, which will help beneficiaries start and grow their businesses,” he said.

He also highlighted the importance of policy reforms, noting that the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy had introduced frameworks, including intellectual property policies, to support young creatives and entrepreneurs.

National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS-TVET initiative at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, commended the participants for their commitment throughout the programme.

She described them as fortunate to benefit from the initiative, which she said was designed to reduce unemployment and keep young people productively engaged.

Ogwu praised President Bola Tinubu for backing the programme and urged beneficiaries to focus on entrepreneurship rather than waiting for white-collar jobs.

“We want you to count yourselves fortunate. Not everyone has access to this kind of opportunity,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Patience Anaja, called for the programme to be expanded and sustained, saying it had transformed her passion for cooking and baking into a viable career path.

“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.

Anaja added that the training had equipped her with practical and entrepreneurial skills that would help her build a future in the hospitality industry.