No fewer than 305 youths from the Dangote Cement 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 commencement of operations by the Cement Company in Ibese.
This was disclosed by the company’s management.
This is just as the Ogun State government lauded the efforts of Dangote Cement in complementing the state’s poverty alleviation programmes, describing the company as a worthy partner.
Acting Plant Director of the Ibese Cement Plant, Mr. Michael Johnson, made the disclosure during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Community Youths Empowerment programme held at the plant’s premises at Ibese during which 30 fresh host communities’ youths graduated from the Youth Skill Acquisition and Empowerment in crafts and leather works in collaboration with Industrial Training Fund.
Mr. 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.
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While welcoming the guests and the beneficiaries to the ceremony, the Cement Plant boss pointed out that the successful completion of the programme was another milestone in the journey of the company’s social investment strides.
He said the company’s vision was to create entrepreneurs who in turn would create jobs for other youths within the communities.
Said he: “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, 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 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.”
Amidst applause by the beneficiaries, Mr. 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 stated that the company’s management was 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.
“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, he noted.”
In his goodwill message, the Ogun State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development. Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, lauded Dangote Cement for its partnership programmes “which have helped the state government tremendously in the area of poverty alleviation and job creation.”
He challenged the Dangote Cement to sustain the trend by helping to ensure it created markets for the products the youth beneficiaries would be churning out, noting that when there was market for the products the beneficiaries would be encouraged to double their efforts.
