The Women’s Board – ECS, along with its partners, has commenced construction of the Wavecrest Hospitality Skills and Enterprise Development Centre of Excellence. This project is part of the Skills Initiatives for Africa (SIFA) and was marked by a foundation-laying ceremony.
The initiative aims to equip young Nigerian women with vital hospitality skills.
The new Centre, a collaborative project involving 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, along with various donors and corporate organizations, is designed to provide training to as many as 400 young women each year.
According to Project Director Edna Dafe, the facility will boost employability and entrepreneurial prospects.
Rosana Forsuelo, Provost of Wavecrest College of Hospitality, stated that the new building would be equipped with modern facilities and advanced equipment to prepare students for the industry’s demands, which heavily depend on skilled personnel.
Anthony Aihie, the Architect and CEO of Design Union, who chaired the event, emphasized the importance of skills acquisition for young women in Nigeria.
Aihie lauded the project as vital for national development, drawing parallels to the need for skilled artisans in various sectors.
Aihie also commended the collaboration between non-profits and the government in promoting vocational training.
The event also featured a heartfelt testimonial from Chinenye Obiakor, a 2012 alumna 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 emphasized the institution’s role in helping young women discover their potential.
Chinenye Obiakor expressed her excitement for the new project, believing it would create even more opportunities for future generations, building upon the foundation Wavecrest College provided for her.
