The Beauty Therapy Institute (BTI) has trained and certified 23 individuals as part of efforts to improve the beauty industry in Nigeria.
The certification took place during a symposium organised by Uno Health Group, which brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, health professionals, and industry stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Chinny Okoye, Special Adviser on Strategic Partnerships, delivered a message from the Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, congratulating the graduates and reaffirming government support.
“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs remains committed to supporting innovation, economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods, and that includes empowering entrepreneurs in the beauty industry. We are open to partnerships and collaboration that help expand opportunities, scale ideas, and spotlight Nigerian excellence on a global stage,” Okoye noted.
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Hilda Titiloye, founder of Uno Health Group, said the beauty industry remains underutilised and highlighted the need for stakeholder collaboration and improved data collection. She said BTI has introduced structured training programmes tailored to local needs and industry standards.
Titiloye also called for support in documenting and expanding local beauty practices, citing the use of shea butter and moringa oil. She noted that the lack of data prevents proper valuation of community-based practices.
Adanma Okoro, chief operating officer of Uno Health Group and lead trainer at BTI, said the institute has trained over 200 students. She explained that the training includes ethics, skin anatomy, and product knowledge.
“What makes BTI training different is the fact that we focus on the ethics of the industry. We ensure that students understand the anatomy of the skin and the products they’re working with,” she said.
A dermatologist and hair restoration surgeon, Gboyega Olarinoye, used the occasion to call for a shift away from Eurocentric beauty ideals, urging Africans to embrace their own identity and standards.
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“We must stop defining beauty by standards that aren’t ours. The Black race is beautiful,” he said. “We need to stop looking outside and instead define beauty using what we have.”
Bright Adoga, one of the top students, described the training as transformative. “I started with passion; BTI gave it direction,” he said.
Another graduate, Evita Felix Okonti, who joined the programme in late 2023, praised the institute’s rigorous standards.
“If you’re looking for excellence, this is it. Nigeria is now on the skincare map,” she said. The stakeholders called for more investment in data gathering, policy reform, and collaboration to strengthen the beauty industry’s role in job creation and economic development.
The event featured discussions on hair and scalp health, entrepreneurship, and business growth. Experts also demonstrated tools and procedures, including AI-based skin analysis and advanced treatment techniques.
