Contribute your quota to Nigeria’s economy-Royal spices academy tasks graduands

An Ibadan-based School of Catering and Hospitality Management – Royal Spices Academy, has charged graduates of the academy to contribute their quota to achieving economic development in Nigeria.

Royal Spices is a government-approved academy dedicated to providing the highest level of culinary and hospitality instruction through world-class programmes.

Speaking at the 2022 graduation ceremony, coinciding with the 31st anniversary of running the hospitality business, held at World Lylies Event Center, Apata, Ibadan, the Rector and Chief Executive Officer of the Academy, Dr. Olufunmi Adegbile, also reminded the graduands that the society expected much from them both intellectually and morally, having acquired relevant attitudes, knowledge, and skills.

Adegbile informed that the idea was initiated to contribute her quota to the economy of the nation, adding that no fewer than 87 students graduated from different departments for the 2021/2022 academic session.

She congratulated all graduates whose dreams of acquiring knowledge and skills at the academy had materialised, urging them to be good ambassadors of Royal Spices Academy.

“We are having 87 graduating students in different departments; 32 with Diploma in Culinary, 41 with Certificate in Culinary,  two with Diploma in Cake Making and Sugar Craft, four with Certificate in Cake and Sugar Craft, one with Diploma in Hotel and Hospitality Management, six with Certificate in Pastry and Finger Foods and one with Certificate in Grill and Bar management,” the Rector said.

Adegbile disclosed that the academy has entered into an affiliation with Institut Supérieur Bilingue Libre du Togo (IBLT), Togo, over the joint training and certification of students in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management leading to a bachelor’s degree.

According to her, the development is in line with the expanded vision of Royal Spices Academy, to enlarge the academic frontiers of the institution, and to open up more doors of opportunities for the benefit of students.

“Given this, students of Royal Spices Academy will have the opportunity to participate in the programme of IBLT, in terms of further training and capacity building,  after they have undertaken their programme under the tutelage of Royal Spices Academy leading to the award of BSc in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management,” she explained.

Also commenting, the Chairman,  Royal Spices Board of Trustees, Mr. Tunde Laniyan, urged the graduands to be more dedicated to their passion, professional ethics, and good character.

In his address, the guest speaker, Prof. Onaolapo Taiwo, emphasised the need for the graduands to be creative with the skills they have acquired at the academy, urging the Nigerian youths to be proactive to embrace skills and vocational training to overcome the current state of unemployment ravaging the country.

Speaking further, the clinical psychologist from the Lagos State University (LASU), however, called on the government to return the country to the days of trade centers.

His words, “regardless of your age, when a person acquires a skill until you put those skills together, they don’t become rewarding. When you put those skills together and become a vocation, it gives focus and becomes rewarding.

“Students with skills that are practical out there are better off than students who graduated with their bachelor’s degree. Vocations or skills open doors of opportunities.

“Youths should go for skills, For instance, we have been saying something to the government recently that, the one-year National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) should be more practical for the corps members.

Taiwo continued, “like spending three or more weeks somewhere, then the rest of those months should be used for skills that can make them useful because there is no job from government”.

In a chat with journalists shortly after the event, the overall best graduating student, Mrs. Temperance Aluko, noted that she was never expected to be the best graduating student, but was only diligent with her work.

Aluko, therefore urged her junior colleagues to be hardworking and strive for success.

Also, the best-behaved student, Mrs. Olayinka Shittu, said Royal Spices Academy has taught her great lessons in life, adding that apart from her academic work, the lessons had spiced up her marriage of over two decades by bringing joy and love to her home.

The highlight of the epoch-making event featured the presentation of an excellent award to Prof. Adenike Osofisan, for her outstanding contributions to her field and the country at large.

The overall best student, best-behaved student, and most innovative student among others were also awarded.