A hospitality company, 22 Hospitality Ltd., is to partner the Federal Government to set up a world-class hospitality academy to train youths to acquire various skills in the hospitality sector.
The Head Corporate Affairs of 22 Hospitality Ltd., Alhaji Taofeek Lawal, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
He said that the academy would boost human capacity and improve chances of youths gaining employment in the hospitality sector worldwide.
“To boost human capacity in the hospitality industry in the country, 22 Hospitality Ltd. will soon inaugurate a world-standard hospitality academy to improve the chances of youths to gain employment in the hospitality sector anywhere.
Lawal said that the company would undertake skills development of youths in the industry in collaboration with the Federal Government.
“The proposed academy will also serve as an avenue to improve the skills of employees, who will be re-absorbed, following the shutdown of Sheraton Hotel recently by Capital Hotel Plc for needed rehabilitation.”
According to Lawal, the new outfit with collaboration of the Federal Government will reduce unemployment and create new set of skilled manpower that can compete favourably worldwide.
He said that enormous human and material resources would be invested in the academy to make it to stand out as a world-class organisation with the aim of manpower development.
The spokesman explained that the initiative was aimed at bridging the global shortage of trained and experienced human resource personnel in the hospitality industry.
Lawal said that statistics had shown that there were currently more than one millions job vacancies, including housekeepers, waiters, chefs, security personnel, IT and maintenance personnel in the hospitality industry.
He said that products of the academy could also seek international employment opportunities in view of the global dearth of professionals in the industry.
“The academy will provide an army of employable Nigerian youths, who will soon become game-changers in manpower development in the industry.
“The feat will assist government in tackling the current unemployment challenge in the country,” Lawal restated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 22 Hospitality Ltd. recently acquired majority stake in Capital Hotel Plc, owners of Abuja Sheraton Hotel.
The acquisition was done, following a landmark deal, aimed at restoring Sheraton Hotel to its past glory as the first choice hotel in Abuja.
22 Hospitality Ltd. said that the acquisition was also a strategic drive, targeted at making the hotel to carve out a niche for itself by becoming a leading hospitality firm offering premium services to customers.
