Empowerment: 30 Youths graduate from Dangote electrical training programme

*Dangote Cement Plc Ibese Plant, organises the empowerment initiative to provide employment opportunities for the youths, and donates a solar-powered borehole for the use of a host community

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

About 30 youths from host communities around Ibese, in Ogun State of Nigeria, have graduated from a training programme organised by Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant.

The multinational company Monday, March 20, 2023, stated the empowerment initiative is a way of transforming society and providing employment opportunities for the youths in the areas.

L-R: Plant Director, Dangote Cement, Ibese, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin (2nd right), presenting starter packs to one of the beneficiaries while the GM, HAM/Admin, Alh. Abu Sufyan(right) and Deputy Area Manager, ITF, Ogun State, Mrs. Funmi Coker (left) watch

On the significance of the training, Dangote Cement noted the empowerment programme has afforded the youths the opportunity to be trained on domestic electrical installation, wiring and maintenance.

According to the company, it is aimed at accelerating social and economic development of host communities and in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Commissioning of  solar-powered borehole at Ibese

Likewise, the Cement plant commissioned a solar-powered Borehole, at Abule Oke, in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, in fulfilment of the company’s pledge to the communities during its Community Day celebration December 2022.

Dangote Cement also disclosed “the youths were also presented with start-up tools for immediate commencement of their vocation after the training which was put in place by the Ibese Plant in partnership with Industrial Training Fund (ITF).”

Addressing the beneficiaries at the closing ceremony of the programme, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, Ibese Plant Director of Dangote Cement, described the empowerment initiative as a demonstration of the Company’s commitment to continued socio-economic development of the host communities in line with the Community Development Agreement signed last year.

Azad stated the company’s social development strategy “does not support giving people fish to eat but focuses on teaching people how to fish.

The company is being proactive by engaging the communities members, especially the  youths  with so much energy and vigour, he said.

The Ibese Plant Director  further stressed “rather, we empower them to be self-sufficient and self-reliant.”

Azad as reeled off past empowerment initiatives of the Plant aimed at reducing unemployment gaps in the local communities and ultimately improving the standard of living.

These he noted include training in catering and event management, tailoring and fashion design and Acutherapy, from which 275 indigent youths have so far benefitted.

He commended the beneficiaries for their determination and zeal to learn new skills to better their lives, and urged them to apply the technical and entrepreneurial knowledge garnered during the training in building sustainable businesses.

Azad also urged them to be committed to continued development of their skills and expertise in line with the global trend.

In her remarks on the occasion, Mrs. Funmi Coker, Deputy Area Manager, Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Abeokuta Area Office, applauded Dangote Cement Plc Ibese Plant for devoting resources to develop the capacity of the youths in relevant trade areas to make them useful for themselves and their immediate communities.

Mrs. Coker further appreciated Dangote Cement’s consistent collaboration to achieve the Nigeria’s training objectives, while charging other corporate bodies to follow suit.

Mr. Dayo Ogunyinka, the Vice-Chairman of the Community Joint Consultative Committee, also expressed delight for the company’s annual empowerment initiative. Ogunyinka enjoined the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a life-changing opportunity with the capability to take them to the pinnacle of success and ensure that the starter packs received are used for the intended purpose.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Elegbede Ganiyat, from Iboro host community appreciated Dangote Cement for considering it worthy to invest in the development of the youths.

The beneficiary described her experience during the training as “enriching and everlasting”.

Elegbede assured that the beneficiaries had been well-prepared to carve a niche for themselves in the electrical services market in their locality and beyond.

Meanwhile, the cement company has handed over a multi-million Naira solar-powered borehole to the people of Abule-Oke, a host community at a ceremony witnessed by the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye; the Baale of Abule-Oke, Chief Ramoni Akinsanya other community leaders, youths, women, and other indigenes.

Speaking during the hand-over, Azad  again, emphasised the essentiality of water to the survival of humans.

The Director advised the community to make good use of the borehole facility and put up a framework to ensure its security, maintenance and sustenance as their equity contribution to the project.

The Olu of Imasayi commended the Management of Dangote Cement for “being the transformer illuminating the entire Yewaland’’, while acknowledging the commitment of the Company to improving the standard of living of people in its host communities.

He charged the people of Abule-Oke to ensure that the borehole facility is sustained such that coming generations can benefit from the project, as only the judicious use of the facility can encourage the company to invest more in infrastructural developments in the community.

The people of Abule-Oke expressed appreciation to the company for the provision of the water facility, as expressed by the youth leader, Mr. Rafiu Akinola.

Akinola declared that the intervention was timely and value adding, especially considering the fact that it is powered by solar, thus saving the community of the cost of fuelling and maintenance of generator.

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