305 Host communities’ youths graduate from Dangote’s vocational empowerment programmes

*The Dangote Cement Plc says the Ogun State Government applauds the company’s efforts at complementing the state government’s poverty alleviation programmes, and describes it as ‘a worthy partner’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Management of Dangote Cement say about 305 youths from the company’s Ibese plant’s 17 host communities have so far been trained and empowered with multi-million Naira start-up packs in different vocations since the company commenced operations in Ibese, Ogun State of Nigeria.

Mr. Michael Johnson, Acting Plant Director of the Ibese Cement Plant, made the disclosure during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Community Youths Empowerment programme held on the plant’s premises at Ibese.

It was on the occasion when 30 fresh host communities’ youths graduated from the Youth Skills Acquisition and Empowerment in crafts and leather works in collaboration with Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

Dangote Group, in a statement, said the Ogun State Government lauded the efforts of Dangote Cement at complementing the state’s poverty alleviation programmes, describing the company as a worthy partner.

Johnson also described the conclusion of the skills acquisition programme as another testament to Dangote Cement’s commitment to the socio-economic development of its host communities and their people.

“Our focus is to support the indigenous people to become self-sustaining by delivering and sustaining values that are pivotal to their overall growth and development.”

Welcoming the guests and beneficiaries of the programmes to the ceremony, the Acting Plant Director as well described the successful completion of the programme as another milestone in the journey of the company’s social investment strides.

Johnson stated the company’s vision is to create entrepreneurs who in turn will create jobs for other youths within the communities.

Said he: “Today, thirty (30) youths from our seventeen (17) host communities are receiving certificates for undergoing in full and conducting themselves well during the intensive training, 70% hands on and 30% theory, organised by the Dangote Cement Ibese Plant through the ITF.

“This underscores our recognition of youths as a critical stakeholder group to the company and our resolve to continue to collaborate to unleash their innate potential.

“They are also being provided with multi-million Naira start-up packs comprising SR-810 Professional Single Needle Post-bed Heavy-lock Stick Shoe Patch sewing machine, Master Flex MF-2008BG Shoe filing machine and other accessories like scissors, hammer & sewing needle”

He further recalled, amid applause by the beneficiaries, that the 30 youths commenced the training October 2023, with little or no idea in the craft of leather works and shoe making.

The Acting Plant Director of the Ibese Cement Plant noted: “After months of intensive learning and extensive practice, they are now imbued with skills that can put food on their tables and afford them opportunities to meaningfully contribute their quota to the development of their respective communities and the nation at large.

“It gladdens our heart to be instrumental to this transformational journey for all the participants.”

According to him, the company’s Management were of the view that governments at all levels and the private sector alone could not fully meet the employment needs, especially in a densely populated and youth dominated country like Nigeria.

Johnson also said: “The most plausible alternative, therefore, is for the youths to acquire adequate skills in various trades to become entrepreneurs and self-dependent.

“This programme is, therefore, timely and most auspicious as its intended impact cannot be overemphasised, considering the prevailing economic condition in the country.”

So far, not less than 305 youths across the Ibese Plant host communities have been trained and empowered in different skills since the commencement of programmes, with significant impact on the local economy while expressing the company’s desire to continue to collaborate with stakeholders to deepen the impact of the programme, stated Johnson.

The Plant Director disclosed that apart from the annual skills acquisition programme, Dangote Cement, Ibese, has other programmes, such as annual scholarship awards for 120 indigent and brilliant students and a dedicated structure to ensure that the youths remain engaged and their concerns are heard and attended to on a consistent basis.

He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity to set up their own businesses, grow them and become employer of labour by hitting the ground running immediately saying a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step.

Johnson asserted: “Be bold and courageous to start your own journey to greatness now! We live in a technology-driven world, which the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken to another level.

“Hence, you need to remain focused and be conversant with the latest developments in your areas of specialisation by embracing technology to remain relevant and competitive.”

In his goodwill message at the event, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka Ogun State Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, lauded Dangote Cement for its partnership programmes, which he acknowledged have helped the state government tremendously in the area of poverty alleviation and job creation.

Hon. Isiaka challenged Dangote Cement to sustain the trend by helping to ensure it create markets for the products the youth beneficiaries would be churning out, noting when there is market for the products, the beneficiaries will be encouraged to double their efforts.

The commissioner assured that the state government would be ready to assist in whatever is required to foster joint development of the state by empowering its people, especially the youths.

He then advised the company to ensure the diversification of its empowerment programme so that different skills can be acquired by the youths in various field of vocation and in turn teach others.

Isiaka also urged the youths and other stakeholders in the host communities to reciprocate the gesture of the Dangote Cement, Ibese by making peace and tranquility their priority.

He urged them to play their own part of the bargain by partnering and supporting the organisation to ensure peaceful co-existence and shared prosperity for all.

On behalf of the beneficiaries, 21-year old Olowookere Sadiq Opeyemi from Abule-Oke Community, thanked the Management of Dangote Cement for their passion in seeing that the youths from the host communities do not constitute nuisance to the society be empowering them through various vocational training.

Young Olowookere also promised that he and his colleagues would not disappoint the company, but ensure the start-up packs given them are judiciously used, so that they would also become entrepreneurs who, in turn, would employ others.

“What Dangote Cement has done for us is unquantifiable. They have lessened the burden off our parents and the society at large will be better for it.

With this, Dangote Cement, Ibese has proven that they are not just corporate citizen but a socially responsible corporate citizen,” stated the beneficiary.

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