By Onyeka Ezike
The Tourism and Hospitality Mentorship for Development (TMD) Foundation, Nigeria’s largest youth network in the hospitality industry, is set to transform Africa’s hospitality landscape through its mega Youth Summit scheduled to hold from May 15–16, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites.
Speaking on Villa Square, a special segment of Cr8tive 9ja, a weekly tourism and cultural magazine programme aired every Thursday on Mainland 98.3 FM, Lagos, and anchored by renowned tourism journalist Frank Meke alongside Bunmi Bade Adeniji, the President of the TMD brand, Marvellous Dada, revealed that the organisation currently operates in over 26 universities across Nigeria, with an active community of more than 5,000 members.
This year’s summit, themed “Reimagining the Future of Culture in African Hospitality, Tourism, and Travel,” is expected to attract over 2,000 youths from various institutions and professional bodies.
Dada explained that the summit aims to reposition young professionals within the hospitality industry. According to him, “We are trying to make a statement and prepare the youth of the hospitality industry for the future. We appreciate the efforts of those who came before us, they have done tremendously well, but now we want to empower young people through mentorship and provide them with the substance they need to become strong voices in the industry. We want African hospitality, travel, and tourism students to set standards and become game changers.”
He further emphasized the need for a critical review of the industry, particularly the academic curriculum. He noted that existing institutional syllabi are outdated and do not align with current industry demands. “It appears we are recycling outdated methods. The curriculum does not reflect present realities and was not even fully relevant years ago. Regulatory bodies and agencies must begin to adapt to modern demands, or risk losing young professionals who may leave the industry due to a lack of alignment with current trends,” he said.
Dada also pointed out that many industry events fail to adequately engage young people. He shared that his passion for the sector was sparked during his undergraduate days at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where attending a similar event inspired the vision that eventually became the TMD Foundation.
The summit will host high-profile dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole Ghassan Faddoul, Managing Director of Eko Hotels & Suites, Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo, Director of Sales and Marketing, Eko Hotels and Suties, Omotere Omoluabi-Davies, Regional Integration Coordinator for the African Development Bank, Ikechi Uko, Organizer, AKWAABA, African Travel Market, Dr, Moji Davids, Group Managing Director, Agritourism Limited (United Kingdom), Mark Darko, Global President, Africa International Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AICCI), Prof. Patrick Lumuba, Lawyer & Former Director of Keyan Anti-Corruption Commission, Clara Chinwe Okoro, Founder and Chief Operating Officer at the Travel Tech Company MY BEAUTIFUL AFRICA, and the Executive Producer at Brandworld Media, among others.
Toluwanimi Ajayi, Media and Institutional Assistant, expressed confidence that the summit will meet expectations by providing students with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. She highlighted the importance of mentorship, noting that while young people are vital to the industry’s future, they must work within established structures and learn from experienced professionals.
Dada also called on industry leaders to actively share their insights and guide the next generation. He stressed that such collaboration is essential for restoring the industry’s global competitiveness.
Since its inception, the TMD Foundation has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest hospitality and tourism student networks, with a presence in over 26 tertiary institutions. Through initiatives such as the Hospitality and Business Summit, institutional visits, mentorship programmes, internship facilitation, and leadership development projects, the organisation has connected thousands of young people to real opportunities within the industry.
The foundation continues to emphasize its non-profit orientation, positioning itself as a purpose-driven platform committed to education, empowerment, and enlightenment. These core pillars remain central to its mission of bridging the gap between academia, industry, and society.
Industry stakeholders, academic institutions, and partners have welcomed the organisation’s growth, describing it as timely and aligned with the increasing need for youth-focused development platforms in Nigeria.
The TMD Foundation remains committed to advocating for an improved tourism and hospitality industry that supports young people across institutions, while also inviting partners and stakeholders to collaborate in creating sustainable pathways for youth development both locally and globally.
