Diageo Nigeria, in partnership with Celebr-8 Lyfe, the Lagos State Ministry of Employment and Wealth Creation, and Lagos State Employment Trust Fund has successfully graduated participants from the inaugural cohort of its Learning for Life (L4L) initiative in Nigeria, reinforcing its commitment to youth empowerment, employability, and sustainable economic development.
Launched in September 2025, the Learning for Life initiative was initially designed to train 250 young Nigerians in hospitality and tourism-related skills. However, the programme exceeded expectations by successfully training more than 300 participants through a structured curriculum focused on practical hospitality training, workplace readiness, mentorship, and employability support.
Beyond skills acquisition, the initiative also created direct employment pathways for participants, with over 150 graduates securing internship placements across the Lagos hospitality sector. Several participants have already transitioned into permanent employment opportunities following the completion of their internships.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Adebayo Alli said the successful completion of the first Learning for Life cohort demonstrates the power of cross-sector collaboration in tackling youth unemployment and improving workforce readiness within the hospitality industry.
According to him, the initiative reflects Diageo’s long-term commitment to investing in people and communities through sustainable, impact-driven programmes.
“Learning for Life reflects our belief that skills development is one of the most sustainable pathways to economic empowerment,” Alli stated.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende commended Diageo Nigeria for creating opportunities and hope for young Nigerians through the initiative.
He highlighted Lagos State’s youthful population, which accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the state’s population, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions that support youth development and economic participation.
“Diageo’s commitment to training young Nigerians is deliberate, long-term, and rooted in the desire to create meaningful opportunities for young people to grow, thrive, and contribute to the future of the hospitality industry and the economy as a whole,” Ogunlende said.
The Learning for Life initiative forms part of Diageo’s global Society 2030: Spirit of Progress agenda, which prioritises inclusion, community investment, and sustainable social impact across its markets.
Representatives from the Lagos State Ministries of Tertiary Education, and Tourism, Arts and Culture were also present at the graduation ceremony. The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Feyisayo Alayande, led her team to the event and praised the programme’s strong emphasis on employability and inclusion.
“Initiatives like Learning for Life are important in creating access and reducing barriers to opportunity for young Nigerians. The programme’s emphasis on practical training, inclusion, and employment pathways aligns strongly with our broader commitment to youth development and economic inclusion across Lagos State,” Alayande noted.
Commenting on the impact of the collaboration, Shobhit Jindal stressed the importance of partnerships in driving meaningful change.
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“The success of this initiative demonstrates what is possible when organisations come together with a shared purpose. Through strong collaboration between Diageo, Celebr-8 Lyfe, the Ministry of Employment and Wealth Creation, and LSETF, we were able to move beyond intention and deliver practical opportunities that are already transforming lives and creating long-term career pathways for young people,” Jindal said.
In his remarks, Godfrey Adejumoh noted that the initiative was intentionally designed to support inclusive participation, particularly for women and persons with disabilities who are often underrepresented within the formal economy.
According to him, the combination of technical training and practical workplace exposure ensures participants gain both industry-relevant skills and the confidence needed to succeed professionally.
Through Learning for Life and other community-focused initiatives, Diageo Nigeria continues to strengthen its role in empowering communities, supporting industry growth, and creating sustainable opportunities that contribute to long-term economic development and social progress across Nigeria.
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