No fewer than 30 youths from communities around Ibese in Ogun State have graduated from a training programme organised by Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, as part of efforts to transform society and provide employment opportunities for the youths.

The empowerment programme which afforded the youths the opportunity to be trained on domestic electrical installation, wiring and maintenance, was aimed at accelerating social and economic development of host communities and in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

Addressing the beneficiaries at the closing ceremony of the programme, the Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant Director, Azad Nawabuddin, described the empowerment initiative as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to the continued socio-economic development of the host communities in line with the Community Development Agreement signed in 2022.

Nawabuddin said the company’s social development strategy “does not support giving people fish to eat but focuses on teaching people how to fish saying the company was being proactive by engaging the communities’ members, especially the youths with so much energy and vigour.  Rather we empower them to be self-sufficient and self-reliant.”

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He commended the beneficiaries for their determination and zeal to learn new skills to better their lives, urging them to apply the technical and entrepreneurial knowledge garnered during the training in building sustainable businesses, while committing to continued development of their skills and expertise in line with global trend.

On her part, the Deputy Area Manager, Industrial Training Fund, Abeokuta Area Office, Funmi Coker, commended Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, for devoting resources to develop the capacity of the youths in relevant trade areas to make them useful for themselves and their communities.

She further appreciated the company’s consistent collaboration to achieve the nation’s training objectives, while charging other corporate bodies to follow suit.

Also speaking at the event, the Vice Chairman of the Community Joint Consultative Committee, Dayo Ogunyinka, enjoined the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a life-changing opportunity with the capability to take them to the pinnacle of success and ensure that the starter packs received are used for the intended purpose.

One of the beneficiaries from Iboro community, Elegbede Ganiyat, appreciated Dangote Cement for considering it worthy to invest in the development of the youths and described her experience during the training as enriching and everlasting.

She assured that the beneficiaries have been well prepared to carve a niche for themselves in the electrical services market in their locality and beyond.

The youths were also presented with start-up tools for the immediate commencement of their vocation after the training which was put in place by the Ibese Plant in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

Meanwhile, the Cement Company has handed over a multi-million naira solar-powered borehole to the people of Abule-Oke.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Plant Director, Azad Nawabuddin, stressed the essentiality of water to the survival of humans and advised the community to make good use of the borehole facility and put up a framework to ensure its security, maintenance, and sustenance as their equity contribution to the project.

Speaking, the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye, commended the management of Dangote Cement for “being the transformer illuminating the entire Yewaland”.

He, however, urge the people of Abule Oke to ensure that the borehole facility is sustained for coming generations to benefit from the project.

The Star