HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT/SECTION
The Department of Hospitality Management was founded in December, 1986 first as part of the department of Food Technology and Catering Studies under the headship of Dr. Okolo, and running the National Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management.
In 1992, the department gained autonomy and became known as department of Catering and Hotel Management. In that same year, the department sought and got approval to run the Higher National Diploma in Catering and Hotel Management. By the year 2000, when the programme title changed to Hotel and Catering Management, the department change its name in line with this.
In 2008, the name was again changed to Hospitality Management department following the change in programme title.
In 2005, the department proposed and got approval to run the National Diploma in Leisure and Tourism. All three programmes i.e. National Diploma and Higher National Hospitality Management and National Diploma Leisure and Tourism have been re-accredited as at when due after the initial accreditation. The department ran these programmes until 2014, when the Leisure and Tourism programme became of full-fledged department and was moved to the Epe campus. The department has at various times been headed by qualified Senior academic staff from Senior Lecturer to Chief Lecturer who were professionals in Hospitality Management in addition to lecturers, Instructors and Technologists who have acquired higher qualification through college and self-sponsorship.
From 1988 to date, the department has produced hundreds of diplomates who hold important positions in various fields of hospitality. These includes hotels, event management, hospital catering, off-shore catering (oil companies) government establishments and lecturers in institutions of higher learning including Yaba College of Technology.
The department has participated in academic exhibitions at national and local levels. The department exhibited inventions of New Products at National Poly Expo in 1994, Annual School of Technology, Yaba Tech exhibitions during student week from inception to date, Yaba Tech Applied Research and Technology Innovation Unit Exhibition in 2009 and 2011, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development exhibition in 2011.
Furthermore, the department won international awards in the past years. In 2010, the College won the Silver Award of the West African Tourism and Hospitality Awards for the best Institution Category while in 2011, the College won the Gold Award of the same body for the Best Institution Category.
