Why shy away from Nigerian hospitality?

As the calls for the diversification of the Nigerian economy heighten, the hospitality industry seems the lowest hanging fruit with over N500 billion potential, yet many hold some misconceptions that have prevented a lot of people, especially youths from seeking career in the industry.

As part of its efforts to dismiss the misconceptions about the industry and to contribution to the development of the Nigerian hospitality industry, Swiss Education Group held its first Hospitality Workshop Africa 2016 recently at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

The workshop witnessed the gathering of notable discussants and stakeholders in the sector who insightfully engaged issues and challenges in the sector, proffering solutions, engaging participants on mentorship and advocacy for hospitality as career and not just job.

From Sally Mbanefo, director general, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC); Benoit Samson, chief brand and marketing officer, Swiss Education Group; Obinna Ekezie, CEO, Wakanow; Funmi Victor-Okigbo, CEO No Surprises events; Nkem Odewunmi, CEO Food Fashion Fusion; Belinda Nwosu, Research Consultant, W Hospitality Group, Nigeria and Kushal Dutta, managing director, Jovago, Lagos, Nigeria, members of the panel of discussants were experts in their own fields.

Besides tackling the issues of the day with intellect and vigor, the well-informed discussants further ensured the workshop lived up to its objectives of: providing business knowledge and insight, highlight challenges in the sector and proffering solutions, helping participants, especially aspiring youths to explore career opportunities that abound in the hospitality sector, and most importantly, creating awareness for the Swiss Education Group professional training offerings.

In his opening remarks, Benoit Samson, chief brand and marketing officer, Swiss Education Group, who expressed his joy over the warm reception he received on arrival in Nigeria, highlighted the numerous opportunities in the hospitality industry and how people with passion can develop themselves for career opportunities in the industry beyond Nigeria.

“We are open to partnerships with the Nigerian government and organizations on educational exchanges that will boost service and professionalism in the hospitality sector. We are offering Nigerians, especially youths the opportunity to take advantage of our educational facilities to better their lives and impact the country positively”, Samson explained.

While commending Swiss Education Group for berthing the workshop in Nigeria, and describing the guesture as timely, especially now the call for diversifying the Nigerian economy is on the increase, Sally Mbanefo, DG, NTDC, took time to highlight the huge tourism potential of the country and charging participants rather than look for white collar jobs, they should think out of the box and get ready to dirty their hands in hardwork.

For her, hospitality is all about service, but even with passion for service, people who aspire to develop careers in hospitality should also strive to get education in specific areas as the industry is wide. Despite the 11,000 hotels and 30,000 restaurants in Nigeria, Mbanefo called for more investments in the industry.

Heightening the discussion, Belinda Nwosu said the biggest misconception about hospitality in Nigeria is the thinking that it is a place for people without aspirations and vision. “Hospitality is never a place for school dropouts and people with little or no educational background. This misconception needs to be corrected”, she lamented.

Disclosing his success story, Obinna Ekezie, CEO, Wakanow and former NBA player, urged youths not to switch careers they do not have passion for.  For him, before venturing into a new clime, one should also get information or education to enable him/she fly. “You need passion, work towards becoming the best in your area and do not look for short corners that will lead to short term results”, he charged.

Collaborating Ekezie’s views, Kushal Dutta, MD Jovago insisted that having the right skills and right attitude to work gives one an edge over other job seekers in most industries, including hospitality.

As an employer and a stakeholder in the hospitality industry, Dutta charged aspiring youths to seek self-development, trainings and right attitude in order to get offers and also soar on their responsibilities when eventually employed.

Ekezie and Dutta both insisted that the only way to make money in the industry is to create values from investable ideas.

“If you want to make money, then create value. The worth of the idea and how much people are willing to pay for it tell how much they value the idea”, Ekezie, CEO Wakanow explained.

Funmi Victor-Okigbo, CEO, No Surprises Events, practically took on the youths present at the workshop, and making distinction between passion and mere job quest.  For her, youths should be convinced on the career path they want to follow and give it all its takes including training and patience.

Nkem Odewunmi, CEO Food Fashion Fusion, did not differ from Funmi.  The lawyer turned gourmet-cook/entrepreneur with sound knowledge of food and its synthesis gave participants a recipe for success in any chosen career. For her, getting involved and carrying your employers’ business like your own tells how far you will go in your own business.  That is humility and key to success. “I can do anything. Anytime I am in the kitchen, I do the cooking from the start to the finish. I don’t care because it is my business and it must succeed”, she said.

However, at the end of the workshop, the excited Samson said that Swiss Education Group; the world leader in hospitality management education, is impressed with the Nigeria outing that is already yielding results, noting that the group is open for more partnerships to lift and equip youths with the right skills to take advantage of the plethora of exciting opportunities in the hospitality industry.

OBINNA EMELIKE