Diageo Launches Initiative to Tackle Youth Unemployment

Diageo has launched a skill acquisition initiative called "Learn for Life" to address youth unemployment in Nigeria, which is projected to face a crisis due to a mismatch between rapid population growth and job creation. The initiative, in partnership with Celebr8 Lyfe and supported by the Lagos State Government, aims to empower youth through practical training in the hospitality sector.

On May 22, 2026, 157 young Nigerians graduated from the program, which included an eleven-week internship placement across various hospitality venues in Lagos State. Notably, 68 percent of the graduates were young women, surpassing the global average of 59 percent.

The program has been running since 2008 and has transformed over 200,000 lives across 21 countries. Participants like Faustina Onyiny Okek and Kosisochukwu Scott shared their success stories, highlighting the program's impact on their lives and career prospects.