General News
FG, World Bank Urged to Sustain Investment in Youth Skills Development
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has been urged to sustain investment in technical and vocational education and training to equip Nigerian youths with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
Chief Executive Officer of Masterminds Academy for Tourism, Culinary Arts and Hospitality, MATCH, Khadija Fashina, made the call at the MATCH Student Cook-Off Competition in Abuja.
Fashina said the IDEAS-TVET initiative provides young Nigerians with opportunities to acquire practical competencies that can translate into sustainable livelihoods and increased economic productivity.
She commended the World Bank and the IDEAS-TVET project for supporting skills development, noting that the students participating in the programme paid nothing, as their training was sponsored by the Federal Government.
The MATCH CEO said the institution’s vision was to place Nigerian youths on a productive path in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, adding that some beneficiaries of the programme had already established businesses and were employing others.
Also speaking, Vice Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria, ITPN, Felix Osaghae, said the initiative would contribute to economic growth by encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
Osaghae called for proper mentorship and adherence to professional standards to ensure that beneficiaries sustain the skills acquired during training.
The Chief Judge of the competition and Assistant National Secretary of the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria, APCN, Chef Ngozi Obasa, commended the students for demonstrating creativity, hygiene and food-safety practices.
Obasa expressed optimism that continued investment in young chefs could strengthen Nigeria’s representation in international culinary competitions.
On her part, the keynote speaker and President of the Culinary Arts Practitioners Association, Chef Chiamaka Nwakalor-Egemba, advocated the documentation and preservation of indigenous Nigerian recipes and cooking techniques.
She said chefs should visit different communities to document traditional meals, their histories and preparation methods to ensure they are preserved for future generations.
The cook-off formed part of activities aimed at showcasing the practical culinary skills acquired by students under the skills development programme.
MATCH also announced the commencement of its National Diploma programme in Hospitality Management, with admissions ongoing for young people interested in hospitality, tourism and culinary careers.
