Diageo partners Lagos to lift 250 youths

By Sunday Ani

Diageo Nigeria and its partner, Celebr-8 Lyfe, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Lagos State Government to empower 500 youths with the skills to thrive in the hospitality and tourism industry. 

The event occurred simultaneously alongside the launching of Diago’s Learning for Life programme in Lagos, yesterday.

Speaking about the initiative, Diago’s General Manager Adebayo Ali, emphasised the company’s commitment to empowerment and sustainable growth across the continent.

“We believe that economic empowerment begins with opportunity. Through Diageo Learning for Life, we are not only helping to shape future hospitality professionals, but we are also creating a ripple effect of transformation that impacts families, communities, and the broader Nigerian economy,” he stated.

The Commercial Director for Diageo, Ujunwa Chukwumah, in a statement, also noted that the participants would benefit from a robust learning journey that blends in-person training, online coursework and real-world internships across some top hospitality establishments in Lagos.

“This initiative is more than a training programme; it is a catalyst for change. Diageo Learning for Life will help our young people, especially women aiming to build a career in the hospitality and tourism sectors, unlock their potential and give them the tools needed to step confidently into the workforce,” she said.

General Manager, Celebr-8 Lyfe, Shobhit Jindal, also expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and impact of the programme, saying, “At Celebr-8 Lyfe, we believe that youth empowerment must be practical, inclusive and sustainable.

Through this collaboration with Diageo Nigeria, we are not just training young people, we are preparing them to lead, thrive and transform the hospitality industry from within. We are proud to be part of a programme that aligns so deeply with our values of purpose-driven engagement and social impact.”

The MoU was signed by Ali on behalf of Diago, while Oyindamola Egbeyemi, Director of Programmes at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), signed on behalf of the Lagos State Government.

Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended Diageo Nigeria for the initiative to empower Lagos youths with free training. He also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the programme and working closely with the company to achieve its goals.

While delivering the Governor’s speech, the Commissioner disclosed that there would be an increase in the number of participants from the initially 250 to 500.

Learning for Life is a free training programme by Diageo to equip young Nigerians, especially those who are unemployed or disadvantaged, with practical skills needed to work in the hospitality industry. It covers classroom training, internship, and job placement support.

The company introduced learning for life in Nigeria as a response to the pressing challenge of youth unemployment by leveraging the fast-growing hospitality sector to create inclusive opportunities that will equip young people with skills for sustainable employment and long-term economic empowerment.

Participants will be trained in a wide range of competencies, including hospitality business operations, communication and teamwork, bar and service skill, budgeting, CV writing, and job readiness. The programme also covers critical topics, such as gender and disability inclusion, positive drinking practices, and how to address workplace harassment.

The programme will start with one-week in-person training, followed by an 11-week internship at top hospitality businesses in Lagos. During the training, participants will also engage in ongoing online learning through the Diageo Bar Academy.

The programme is open to young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 27years, who either reside in Lagos or can commit to staying in Lagos throughout the programme. Although the programme is open to all, it strongly encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities to foster inclusivity. It is completely free for all selected participants. Diageo fully covers the cost of training and also provides a stipend to support feeding and transportation during the programme period.

Graduates of the programme can secure roles such as bartenders, hotel front-desk staff, restaurant hosts and event supervisors. They can also establish their own businesses in the hospitality space, further multiplying the impact of the programme.