Experts call for increased investments in culinary education

With the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals across Nigeria’s hospitality sector, experts have reiterated the urgent need for increased funding and support for culinary education.

The experts made the call at the conveying of professional chefs in Lagos recently at the Chef Conference 1.0 themed, ‘The Future of Culinary Careers: Connecting Talents with Demand’, organised by Tobias Igwe, chief executive of Speedmeals Culinary School.

“The hospitality sector is in dire need of trained professionals,” he said. “Many hotels are now recruiting chefs from neighboring countries due to the shortage of skilled local talent. This is a gap we must urgently bridge by investing in culinary education and training.

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He said he is focused on building a pipeline of talent that will transform the hospitality landscape in Nigeria.

Igwe emphasised the untapped potential of culinary education in addressing Nigeria’s rising unemployment and called for more involvement in the hospitality value chain.

The conference featured keynote presentations and panel discussions from seasoned culinary professionals, including Martin Chetty, among a list of others.

It brought together industry leaders, human resource executives from top hotels, and aspiring chefs to explore solutions to Nigeria’s culinary workforce gap and to inspire the next generation of culinary professionals.

A standout moment at the conference was the award of full culinary scholarships to 11 deserving individuals, providing them the opportunity to study at Speedmeals Culinary School.

Additionally, on-the-spot job offers were issued by participating hotels—a first-of-its-kind initiative in Nigeria’s culinary event space.

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The conference also served as a powerful networking platform, allowing young chefs to connect with mentors, industry experts, and potential employers. Speakers encouraged participants to embrace creativity, innovation, and adaptability to excel in the competitive culinary space.

“This conference is not just about dialogue,” Igwe added. “It’s a call to action. We must build institutions, fund training programs, and empower young Nigerians to see the culinary industry as a path to financial independence and global relevance.”

Speedmeals Culinary School has trained over 1,000 culinary professionals who are now employed across hospitality businesses nationwide. The school remains at the forefront of culinary education in Nigeria, offering professional training, mentorship, and job placement support.

The conference was attended by notable figures, including the President of the Culinary Practitioners of Nigeria and other key stakeholders across the hospitality and food service industries.