By Ayomide Otitoju
Towards filling the gap in some plants, the Dangote Group has disclosed that it has recruited graduates of engineering and other technology-based courses and trained them on many aspects of industrial operations. Speaking at the ongoing Lagos Trade fair yesterday, the group executive director, commercial operations, Hajiya Halima Aliko-Dangote, represented by Group Chief Commercial Officer, Rabiu Umar, noted that
these technicians were deployed to the company’s plants in Obajana, Ibese, Gboko as well as our sugar refinery in Apapa and salt refinery in Apapa and Ikeja.
“They have proved that young Nigerians, given the right training and orientation, excel in every assignment they are given.
“For our oil refinery and fertiliser plant, we have recruited hundreds of graduates of Engineering based courses and sent them abroad for training. These sets of professionals are to run the new plants and train other sets of engineers through skills’ transfer.
“In Ibeju-Lekki, we trained youths in vocational skills such as plumbing, masonry, welding, iron bending, auto mechanics and electrical works because of the instant value addition to their lives and communities. We also trained youths in Obajana and Ibese.
“Our aim in training these youths is in line with a Chinese maxim, “give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The skills will provide them with a means of livelihood for their families and hangers on.
He said “Our participation at all major trade fairs across Nigeria demonstrates our belief that Chambers of Commerce & Industry occupy a unique position in driving economic development through their activities. Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) occupies a unique position as the pioneer chamber andhas continued to play a ‘significant role in the economic growth of Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general.’”
He said the theme of 2022 Lagos International Trade Fair, “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value”resonates with “us at Dangote Group, as our investment decisions are focused on creating values for all stakeholders across our subsidiaries. We have invested in several projects which are meant to create jobs and enhance rapid industrialisation of the Nigerian economy. Dangote Cement Plc remains the continent’s foremost cement producer, with operations in 10 African countries. The activities of the cement company through its multipliereffect, provides direct and indirect employmentto millions of people across Africa.
“Our food subsidiaries, Dangote Sugar Refinery, NASCON Allied Industries (Dangote Salt) and Dangote Rice are providing jobs through various schemes. Dangote Sugar Refinery, through its out-grower scheme has provided jobs to thousands of farmers in the host communities. The coming of Dangote Fertiliserhas to a great extent helped to change the face of agriculture in Nigeria while the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, when functional will drivethe development of ancillary industries which will utilise the byproducts as raw materials.
“Our quest to equip Nigerians with the necessary industrial and technological skills informed the collaboration between the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the VDMA (the German Association for Mechanical and Plant Engineering) and its Foundation for Young Talent in Mechanical Engineering, In this innovative programme, we recruited young Nigerians to be trained in various engineering areas to equip them with necessary skills to work in the manufacturing sector. We held the graduation of the first set of 118 trainees (out of 120) who finished in October after an intensive 18-month training programme.
Towards filling the gap in some of our plants, we recruited graduates of engineering and other technology-based courses and trained them on many aspects of industrial operations. These technicians were later deployed to our plants in Obajana, Ibese, Gboko as well as our sugar refinery in Apapa and salt refinery in Apapa and Ikeja. They have proved that young Nigerians, given the right training and orientation, excel in every assignment they are given.
“For our oil refinery and fertiliser plant, we have recruited hundreds of graduates of Engineering based courses and sent them abroad for training. These sets of professionals are to run the new plants and train other sets of engineers through skills’ transfer.
‘In Ibeju-Lekki, we trained youths in vocational skills such as plumbing, masonry, welding, iron bending, auto mechanics and electrical works because of the instant value addition to their lives and communities. We also trained youths in Obajana and Ibese.
“Our aim in training these youths is in line with a Chinese maxim, “give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The skills will provide them with a means of livelihood for their families and hangers on.
“The 12th-century philosopher, Maimonides, said the “most meritorious of all, is to anticipate charity by preventing poverty, by teaching him a trade, or by putting him in the way of business, so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding up his hand for charity.” This is our philosophy for all our staff at Dangote Group.
“articipating in Lagos Trade Fair 2022, will enable us to connect businesses and in the process createvalues for all parties.
“Our expectation therefore is that, through this Trade Fair, we will be able to further expand awareness for our innovative products, generate sales, get prospective buyers, improve the image of our brands,and openup new markets that will further translate into job creation and overall economic development in Nigeria.”
