Phoenix Crest Hospitality Services has gone into partnership with Eastwing Youth Foundation (EYF) with the sole aim of empowering Nigerians in the aviation and hospitality sectors.
This was disclosed by the Phoenix CEO, Folashade, ahead of their planned summit to increase youth participation within Nigeria’s aviation and hospitality sectors. The collaboration would be focused on empowering talented but financially disadvantaged youths in South East Nigeria.
She noted that she was excited to be working with EYF, a nonprofit initiative of Eastwing Aviation Institute, the first aviation school in the South East.
“The heart of the partnership is the upcoming Face of Eastwing Project, scheduled for August 2025. The two-day summit is designed to identify and empower young individuals aspiring for careers in aviation and hospitality. The initiative addresses the underrepresentation of South East youths in these industries,” she stated.
Phoenix Crest’s involvement includes delivering specialised workshops on hospitality career pathways, offering internship opportunities to top-performing candidates and contributing to curriculum development for hospitality-related assessments.
Beyond individual empowerment, the partnership will create a ripple effect across the South East and the nation at large. By opening up access to high-demand career paths in aviation and hospitality, the initiative is expected to stimulate regional economic activity, curb youth unemployment and drive industry competitiveness. It will also help decentralise talent pipelines that are often concentrated in Lagos, giving the South East a stronger voice and presence in national development.
The summit is expected to attract over 5,000 participants, including graduates, school leavers, and tertiary institution applicants aged between 18 and 30. The event will feature the selection of 10 finalists from a pool of 50 candidates who have undergone pre-summit training in aviation and hospitality. The overall winner will receive a full scholarship to study an aviation course, along with other amazing prizes that would help launch them in a successful career.