Rev. Minister Latifa Adekanla, founder of Lola Hair and Beauty College, has inaugurated the Lola Hope Foundation Ghana to empower young and vulnerable individuals and the Lola Hair and Beauty College to train young people to build a livelihood for themselves.
The foundation aims to support those who wish to pursue Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) but lack the financial and other essential support required to achieve their aspirations.
Speaking at the official launch of the foundation on Friday, 25th April, Rev. Latifa shared her journey and the inspiration behind the initiative. She revealed that she was able to attend secondary school thanks to the generosity of a sponsor, which paved the way for her success.
“I benefited from someone’s benevolence, I wouldn’t have gone to secondary school if not for someone who sponsored me,” she said. “I realised there are many people out there who need education, whether formal or informal, but have no one to help or guide them. That’s why we are launching the LOLA Hope Foundation.”
“This foundation will cater for vulnerable and underprivileged individuals who want to attend school but lack the means,” she added.
Rev. Latifa called on individuals and organisations to support her mission to positively impact the lives of those in need. She explained that the foundation will assist bright but financially disadvantaged students in accessing formal education at all levels.
For those interested in informal education, her Lola Hair and Beauty College will provide vocational training in hairdressing, cosmetology, and other areas within the beauty industry.
She noted that even before the foundation’s official launch, several young people had already benefited from its educational support programme. Now, she is creating a platform for more people to join in and support the cause.
Rev. Latifa added that individuals interested in acquiring vocational skills will be supported through the Lola Beauty and Hair College or any other TVET institution, under the umbrella of the foundation.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, she highlighted that her vision aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 8, aiming to reduce poverty and promote decent work and economic growth. “I want everyone to have something meaningful to do, which will help close the poverty gap,” she said.
At the launch of the foundation, she also officially inaugurated the Lola Hair and Beauty College. The institution has been in operation for the past eight years and has seen hundreds of young people trained, many of whom are now self-employed across the Greater Accra Region and beyond.
The event also saw the graduation of 14 trainees from the Lola Hair and Beauty College. Three of the graduates were male students who specialised in hair locking, while the remaining eleven studied hairdressing.
Speaking at the brief but colourful event, the guest speaker, acting Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to apply the skills they had acquired to become self-employed and attain financial independence.
She commended the students for choosing to pursue a trade, stating, “It is always good to learn something with your hands. I always say that beauty begins in the mind; what you dream of is what you become. If you sit at home saying you don’t want to learn a trade and expect money to come from somewhere, that’s how you end up idle and struggling. But when you decide to start somewhere, you can always grow from there. It is always good to learn something.”
Madam Darko-Opoku also urged the graduates to embrace innovation and keep up with new trends to remain competitive in the industry.
“These days, people offer door-to-door services and home visits; explore those opportunities,” she advised.
She challenged the misconception that TVET and trade education are only for those who are academically weak, saying, “I think it’s a wrong impression. Many people who have completed university, even up to PhD level, return to the beauty sector. It’s not only those with formal education who succeed in the corporate world.”
The founder of the college, Reverend Minister Latifa Adekanla, also addressed the gathering.
She said, “This institution is not just a school; it is a movement—a movement that believes our young men and women deserve quality vocational education. It is a movement that sees vocational training not as a second choice but as a powerful path to purpose and prosperity.”
“May you go out there and shine—light up the world,” she charged.