…launches Learning for Life initiative
…to empower 250 youths in hospitality
Diageo, a global producer of beverage alcohol, has partnered with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and Celebr-8 Lyfe to launched a youth empowerment scheme in the hospitality sector to tackle the country’s high youth unemployment.
Adebayo Alli, general manager, Diageo, who made this known during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently in Lagos, said the L4L initiative is designed to break down barriers for young people who have potential, but not always the opportunity to thrive.
“It is not a charity initiative; it is a pathway to purpose, one that equips youth with real-world skills, hands-on experience, and opportunities they need to build meaningful careers,” he said.
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Through its newly launched flagship initiative – Learning For Life (L4L), Diageo and partners will empower 250 young Nigerians with a special focus on women and people with disabilities to promote inclusion and economic empowerment.
He noted that the Diageo L4L initiative is rooted in a belief that talent exists everywhere, every community, background and young person.
“Too often, what’s missing is not ability, but access. And that is exactly what this programme provides: access to knowledge, to networks, to knowledge, to networks, to mentorship and to employment,” he said.
According to him, with the launch of the L4L in Lagos and vital partnership, Diageo is expanding the reach and impact of the initiative that has been launched in Angola, Ethiopia, and Cameroon.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos, hailed the partnership as a model of effective public-private collaboration for social impact.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, the commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, said the programme specifically addressed unemployment and the need for relevant skills among young people.
“Lagos is proud to fully embrace this programme and to provide robust support for its success.”
“This initiative aligns seamlessly with our administration agenda centered on education, youth empowerment and social inclusion.”
The governor pledged to sponsor 250 additional beneficiaries in furtherance of the state’s youth development objectives.
“With youth forming over 60 per cent of our population, we must equip them with tools for global competitiveness,” he said.
He added that the initiative would enable them to contribute to Lagos’ economic growth.
“The Learning for Life programme, covering hospitality, bartending, entrepreneurship and retail, is a vital milestone in that journey,” the governor stated.
Sanwo-Olu commended Diageo Nigeria for identifying the hospitality industry as a driver of inclusive economic empowerment.
Speaking also, Shobhit Jindal, general manager, Celebr8-Lyfe, said that talent is everywhere, but it needs room to grow.
“The Diage L4L is our way of making space for that growth. It is our way of saying: You matter, your goals and future matter,” Jindal said.
Speaking about the L4L initiative, Christianah Robinson, communications & sustainability manager, West & Central Africa, Diageo, said the L4L curriculum includes key modules such as business essentials, bar skills, teamwork, budgeting, and confidence building.
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According to her, it will feature training on social issues like gender and disability inclusion, sexual harassment prevention, and responsible drinking.
She explained that after a one-week classroom and online training phase, participants will enter an 11-week internship in top Lagos hospitality businesses.
These businesses include hotels, bars, restaurants, lounges, and airports, offering hands-on industry experience, she said. High-performing participants will be offered full-time roles upon completion of the programme, Robinson noted.
All trainees will receive transport stipends and post-programme support via the Diageo Bar Academy platform.
Robinson said applications for the first cohort open on July 14 and close on July 28, adding that in-person training begins on Aug. 11, while internships run from 1 September to Nov. 17. Successful candidates may receive job offers from mid-November onwards.
Feyisayo Alayande, executive secretary, LSETF said the initiative goes beyond training, noting that it is about empowering individuals with relevant and collaborative skills and facilitating meaningful job placement.
Alayande, who was represented by Oluwafunmilayo Erics-Sobukonla, head of business support, LSETF, said, “in advancing human capital development, we are not only creating pathways for employment, but we are also strengthening the pillar of a resilient workforce that can serve the evolving needs of Lagos and beyond.”
