The hospitality industry is globally known to be the highest employer of young people.
The industry in Nigeria is fast-growing, and it can address the unemployment crises in our country. Evidently, there are huge employment gaps to be filled in this space but candidates for these positions, unfortunately, have limited technical and or employability skills for available positions.
I personally find this situation very saddening especially with our teeming youths who would excel when properly positioned.
The very limited understanding of the industry appears to be the major challenge in the missed opportunities that the industry provides.
The hospitality Industry anchors the service industry that includes: Food and Beverage, Travel and Tourism, Lodging and Recreations. These are essentially what our lives revolve around! It presents a massive opportunity for career development.
Here is a sneak peep into segments in the industry
1. Food and Beverage
2. Travel and Tourism
3. Lodging
4. Recreation
Erroneously, many people think catering is about being an “Iya Olonje,” the local food seller. It is “suffer head” work like many people say and think. Far from it. There are many aspects to being a catering professional. It is cool to be a commis or trainee chef, chef de partie, sous chef and someday executive chef. Being a chef is trending now and I’ll like to encourage more youths to join this exciting career.
So the Hot Kitchen is not your thing, how about butchery, patisserie, Garde Manger etc.? These are also exciting positions in food production. With the right training and mindset, successful careers can be developed to bridge the gaping needs in the field.
Travel and Tourism in Nigeria are also growing with local and international tours being organized by indigenous Tour companies. There are so many aspects to travel and tourism. Depending on what you fancy, youth can take on careers as Travel agents, Adventure and Sports Tourism Agents, Airline, Cruise and Land Travel Coordinators.
The hotel business is obviously the fast-growing segment of the hospitality industry in Nigeria. Evidently, there are many local and international hotel chains adorning the Nigeria landscape. They all have positions to be filled by competent hands. These positions include but not limited to: Hotel Managers, Conference and Banqueting managers, Food and Beverage Managers, Rooms Division Managers and at beginners’ levels: Porters, Waiters, Concierge, Room maids to mention a few.
Finally, Recreation also presents a huge opportunity for youth engagement. The obvious aspects are music, movie and Art. Other aspects include: Event management, Security, Sound and Audio, Video and Photography, Cruise Crew, Park, Expedition and Out-door skills etc.
It is important we create a lot of awareness on the potentials and opportunities in Hospitality industry so our youths can be directed. The workforce need is obvious and can be adequately addressed when we develop our young adults to fill the gaping void.
I must add that hospitality jobs require special people. People that can make “work” part of their lifestyle. A job that you’re most likely busiest at weekends and holidays, require an early understanding to take work as a way of life.
So we recognize that you would require hospitality skills to thrive in the industry. Skills driven by passion and the zeal to excel.
Let us all get involved in this crusade to change the narrative. Parents, Schools, Churches, NGOs all have a role to play to read, learn and understand the hospitality industry so we can advise our wards accordingly. Sponsor training in this field and watch them thrive and become almost indispensable in the organizations they work for, earning good pay for quality work.
I still know for sure, that there is hope for the “Young Force.” We need them to sustain hospitality businesses, and someday have their businesses sustained by those coming after them. So someday, the unemployed will become the employer. What makes this even more exciting is that a well-trained hospitality professional can work globally.
I look forward to a time, when our indigenously trained young hospitality professionals get jobs abroad, so they will not have to leave the country under perilous conditions for perceived greener pastures.
S.A.
