The Eko Convention Centre buzzed with purpose and promise on Friday as young minds gathered for the 2025 Hospitality Business Summit (HBS) in Lagos.
Organised by Tourism & Hospitality Mentorship for Development (TMD), Eko Hotels & Suites, and HBS, the event spotlighted the theme: “Wonders of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow: Positioning for Global Impact.”
The goal was simple yet bold—prepare Nigeria’s next generation for global leadership in hospitality and tourism.
“You Are the Keys” – Industry Giants Inspire Youths
Opening the summit, Eko Hotels General Manager Danny Kioupouroglou urged students to embrace growth. “The moment you stop learning, you stop growing. You start falling,” he said.
He declared that Africa’s richest untapped treasure isn’t oil but hospitality. “Africa’s greatest export in the 21st century will not be oil or minerals, it will be hospitality with soul,” he told a rapt audience. “Don’t wait for someone to hand you the keys to the future. You are the keys.”
Echoing this, Eko’s Sales and Marketing Director, Iyadunni Gbadebo, envisioned a world where Nigeria’s stories and culture would be its biggest global exports. “We will sell our stories to the world… that will be our priority to take over the world,” she declared.
Bridging the Gap Between Classrooms and Careers
Eko Hotels MD Ghassan Faddoul stressed the need for hands-on training. “Every year from year one, students should undergo internships,” he advised. “There’s nothing better than preparing yourselves for the real world by training and training.”
Radisson’s General Manager Rita Opiah agreed, calling for better monitoring and department rotation during internships. She also reminded attendees that hospitality extends beyond hotels.
Yvonne Joseph, founder of Girls in Tourism Foundation, urged institutions and businesses to bridge their gaps. She noted that students often lacked follow-up during internships. “Allow them to express creativity,” she said. “You cannot move forward in the industry if you are not constantly learning from those who have been there before you.”
In a moment of reflection, Topaz Travel MD Susan Akporiaye asked students, “Are you employable?” She encouraged patience and personal development. “Not being employable today should be food for thought,” she added.
The summit wrapped with calls for long-term commitment, deeper mentorship, and trust in the dreams of the young. If youth heed the rallying cry, then Africa’s hospitality sector may well become its crown jewel.
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