The Women’s Board – ECS and its partners have officially begun construction on the Wavecrest Hospitality Skills and Enterprise Development Centre of Excellence, a project under the Skills Initiatives for Africa (SIFA), with a foundation-laying ceremony in Lagos.

This new initiative aims to empower young women in Nigeria by providing critical skills training for the hospitality industry.

The new Centre, a collaboration between the Women’s Board, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), LSG Sky Chef Things Remembered Services, Lagos Business School, Ishk Tolaram, Hilton Global Foundation, IDP, various donors, and corporate organisations, is designed to train up to 400 young women yearly.

Project Director, Edna Dafe, said that the facility would significantly enhance their employability and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Also, Provost of Wavecrest College of Hospitality, Rosana Forsuelo, explained that the new building would feature modern, as well as state-of-the-art equipment to prepare students for the complexities of the industry, which she noted, relies heavily on skilled human resources.

Architect and CEO of Design Union, Anthony Aihie, who chaired the event, highlighted the importance of skills acquisition for young women in Nigeria.

He praised the project as a crucial step in nation-building, similar to the need for skilled artisans in other sectors.

Aihie also commended the collaboration between non-profit organisations and the government’s efforts to promote vocational training.

However, the event featured a heartfelt testimonial from Chinenye Obiakor, a 2012 alumnus of Wavecrest College of Hospitality and a current specialist at Mykonos Cayman (Upscale Steakhouse in the Cayman Islands). She credited the college with shaping her successful career and emphasised the institution’s role in helping young women discover their potential.

She, therefore, expressed her excitement for the new project, believing it will create even more opportunities for future generations.