30 youths trained in leather works and shoemaking have been empowered by Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese, Ogun State.
The beneficiaries were drawn from 17 host communities and underwent a two-month intensive training program in Ewekoro and Yewa North Local Government Areas of the state.
The company also provided each of the beneficiaries with starter packs worth N1,000,000.
The Plant Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, Nawabuddin Azad, stated that the training was a testament to the company’s commitment to contributing to the socio-development of the host communities and the people.
Azad made these remarks at the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries of the 2023 community youth empowerment program organized in partnership with the Industrial Training Funds (ITF).
He explained that the company’s focus is to support indigenous people to become self-reliant by delivering and sustaining values that are pivotal to their overall growth and development.
Azad, represented by the Chief General Manager, Johnson Michael, stated, “The 30 youths 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.”
“So far, 305 youths across the Ibese Plant host communities have been trained and empowered in different skills since the commencement of operations, with significant impact on the local economy. We will continue to collaborate with our stakeholders to deepen the impact of this program.
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‘’Apart from the annual skills acquisition program, we have other programs 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. This underscores our recognition of youths as a critical stakeholder group to DCP and our resolve to continue to collaborate to unleash their innate potentials,” he added.
The representative of Industrial Training Funds (ITF), Olalekan Abdulrahman, disclosed that the Federal government plans to train, empower, and certify 10 million artisans across the country under the “Skill up Nigeria” program.
Abdulrahman stated that the program is part of the government’s effort to reduce youth unemployment and revive the economy.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development, Wasiu Isiaka, commended Dangote for giving back to the communities with the company’s various corporate social responsibility programs.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Olowokere Opeyemi, applauded Dangote Cement for the gesture and promised that they would make good use of the opportunity and become employers of labor.
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