By Uwem EKOH
Uyo, In a significant push to strengthen youth empowerment and manpower development under the ARISE Agenda, the Love for Humanity Foundation has announced scholarship awards for 200 Akwa Ibom youths to study Tourism and Leisure, Catering, and Hospitality Management Technology.
The scholarship initiative is aimed at complementing the Akwa Ibom State Government’s heavy investment in tourism and hospitality by tackling the acute shortage of trained and certified professionals required to manage the sector’s expanding infrastructure.
Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Victor Utong, said the programme was conceived in response to the alarming deficit of skilled manpower in the industry, warning that the rapid growth of tourism assets in the state cannot be sustained by untrained personnel.
According to him, the Foundation is partnering with Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, and the City & Guilds of London Institute to deliver structured academic and professional training that meets both national and international standards.
Dr. Utong described Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, established in 2001, as a critical institution in the state’s manpower development drive, noting its track record in producing skilled professionals across sectors such as safety, oil and gas, healthcare, tourism, global hospitality, and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle conversion technology.
He urged Akwa Ibom youths to take full advantage of the scholarship opportunity, stressing that tourism and hospitality remain among the fastest-growing and most lucrative career sectors globally.
Dr. Utong disclosed that conservative estimates indicate over 100,000 job opportunities for qualified professionals within Akwa Ibom and major Nigerian cities including Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, as well as international destinations such as Dubai, Qatar, Singapore, and other global tourism hubs.
Backing his argument with data, he cited a 2023–2024 statistical survey which revealed that 93 per cent of workers in the tourism and hospitality industry lack formal education or professional training, with only seven per cent possessing recognized qualifications.
The survey further showed that 33 per cent of workers are chefs and caterers trained in unregulated centres without standard curricula or certification recognised by the Federal Ministry of Education, while about 60 per cent are untrained receptionists, housekeepers, room service attendants, bar attendants, and other auxiliary staff.
Dr. Utong warned that leaving the industry in the hands of unqualified practitioners poses serious risks to efficiency, profitability, and sustainability, insisting that deliberate investment in local human capital is no longer optional but urgent.
Meanwhile, the Foundation has scheduled the screening of applicants for Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Atan Offot, Uyo, by 10:00 a.m. Successful candidates are expected to commence training immediately after the screening exercise.
