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No fewer than 305 youths from the 17 host communities of Dangote Cement Plant in Ibese, Ogun State have so far been trained and empowered with multi-million Naira start-up packs in different vocations since the commencement of operations by the company in Ibese.
Acting Plant Director of the Ibese Cement Plant, Mr. Michael Johnson, disclosed this during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Community Youths Empowerment programme held at the plant’s premises, where 30 new host communities’ youths graduated from the Youth Skill Acquisition and Empowerment in crafts and leather works, in collaboration with Industrial Training Fund.
Johnson described the conclusion of the skill 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,” he said.
While welcoming the guests and the beneficiaries to the ceremony, the Acting Plant Director pointed out that the successful completion of the programme was another milestone in the company’s social investment strides, adding that the company’s vision is to create entrepreneurs who in turn will create jobs for other youths within the communities.
“Today, 30 youths from our 17 host communities are receiving certificates for undergoing in full and conducting themselves well during the intensive training, 70% hands on and 30% theory, organized 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 potentials.
“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,” Johnson said.
Amidst applause by the beneficiaries, Johnson recalled that the 30 youths commenced the training in October 2023, with little or no idea in the craft of leather works and shoe making.
“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,” he added.
He stated that the company’s management was of the view that governments at all levels and the private sector alone cannot fully meet the employment needs, especially in a densely populated and youth dominated country like Nigeria.
“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 overemphasized considering the prevailing economic condition in the country,” the Acting Plant Director said.
While expressing the company’s desire to continue to collaborate with stakeholders to deepen the impact of the programme, Johnson said about 305 youths across the Ibese Plant host communities have been trained and empowered in different skills since the commencement of the programme, with significant impact on the local economy.
He noted that apart from the annual skills acquisition programme, Dangote Cement Ibese Plant has other programmes such as annual scholarship awards for 120 indigent and brilliant students as well as a dedicated structure to ensure that the youths remain engaged and their concerns are heard and attended to on a consistent basis.
The Acting Plant Director 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.
“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 specialization by embracing technology to remain relevant and competitive,” Johnson added.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Government has lauded the efforts of Dangote Cement in complementing the state’s poverty alleviation programmes, describing the company as a worthy partner.
The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, who gave the commendation in his goodwill message, lauded Dangote Cement for its partnership programmes, which he said have helped the state government tremendously in the area of poverty alleviation and job creation.
He challenged Dangote Cement to sustain the trend creating markets for the products the youth beneficiaries would be churning out, noting that when there is market for the products, the beneficiaries would 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 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, who would in turn teach others.
Isiaka urged the youths and other stakeholders in the host communities to reciprocate the gesture of Dangote Cement Ibese Plant by making peace and tranquility their priority. He told them to play their own part by partnering and supporting the organisation to ensure peaceful co-existence and shared prosperity for all.
Responding 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 by empowering them through various vocational training.
He promised that he and his colleagues would not disappoint the company, adding that they will ensure the start-up packs given to them are judiciously used so that they would also become entrepreneurs and employer of labour.
“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,” he stated.