Hospitality Is a Calling: Tribe Lagos’ Shamsiyah Kadir Okoro on Service, Celebration, and Lagos’ Detty December Economy

As Lagos prepares for another vibrant Detty December season, the hospitality industry is once again stepping into the spotlight. For Shamsiyah Kadir Okoro, the Managing Partner at Tribe Lagos, hospitality is far more than dining and nightlife it is a calling, a career path, and a critical part of the city’s economic engine. Speaking on the Base sunrise morning show, Shamsiyah explained that service roles in restaurants are often misunderstood and undervalued, despite offering some of the strongest growth pathways in the industry. “Serving is a service — and a career to be embraced.” According to her, hospitality should not be seen as a temporary job but as a professional field where waiters, waitresses, bartenders, and frontline staff can build long-term careers. “People think serving is just a job, but it’s a service that opens doors,” she said. “If you approach it as a career, you can rise into management, operations, events, marketing, or even run your own establishment later.” She emphasized that those who excel in hospitality are the ones who take the work seriously, learning customer behaviour, developing interpersonal skills, and mastering the art of listening. LISTENING: THE HEART OF GOOD SERVICE For Shamsiyah, good hospitality starts with paying attention. In a city where dining competition is fierce and customers have endless options, listening becomes the most important tool. “Customers always tell you what they want through their words, their reactions, or their habits. When staff listen, businesses grow.” She added that customer feedback, whether direct or subtle, is what shapes the best restaurants in Lagos. WHY BIRTHDAYS MATTER AND WHY TRIB3 LAGOS CELEBRATES THEM BOLDLY Tribe Lagos has become known for its immersive birthday experiences, a partnership with Base FM that extends to on-air celebrations and giveaways. Shamsiyah believes birthdays deserve this kind of attention. “Birthdays are the only celebration that is truly personal,” she said. “You didn’t choose anything else about your life but your birthday marks your beginning. It’s your day. It’s worth celebrating loudly.” For her, celebrating people, whether through food, ambience, or personalised experiences is one of the purest forms of hospitality. LAGOS PREPARES FOR DETTY DECEMBER Lagos’ hospitality and nightlife sector is entering its busiest period of the year. With visitors arriving from within and outside the country, restaurants and entertainment hubs become central to the city’s holiday energy. Shamsiyah says Tribe Lagos is already preparing for the rush, the events, and the high demand that define the festive season. “December is our peak period. Lagos becomes electric,” she noted. “People want to dine, celebrate, go out, and enjoy the city. Hospitality and nightlife carry that season.” A CALL FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT Shamsiyah stressed the need for stronger government involvement in supporting Lagos’ hospitality businesses from infrastructure to policy support and ease of operations. “This industry carries a large part of Lagos’ December economy. More support from the government will help businesses grow, create jobs, and give visitors a better experience of the city.” She highlighted that hospitality is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors, especially for young people, and deserves recognition and investment. THRIVING IN A DEMANDING SOCIETY Reflecting on her own journey, Shamsiyah noted that hospitality demands resilience, creativity, and constant reinvention. She acknowledged that the field has its low moments, especially with economic pressures, but emphasised that the rewards service, leadership, and community make the journey worthwhile. As Lagos counts down to Detty December, her message is clear: hospitality is not merely a business, it is a service-driven profession that fuels celebration, employment, and connection. And for Tribe Lagos, the mission remains the same: serve, celebrate, and give Lagos the experiences it loves.