About 200 youths from Ibeju-lekki community in Lagos State have acquired various vocational skills such as plumbing, welding, iron bending, auto mechanics and electrical works through a programme organised by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The programme, put together by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and facilitated by the National Directorate of Employment ( NDE) and Nigerian Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB, is another level of Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s intervention targeted at providing vocational skills to the teeming youth population in its host communities, the company said in a release.
Devakumar Edwin, Dangote Group executive director, strategy, capital projects and portfolio development, said the initiative was a demonstration of Dangote Refinery’s commitment toward capacity-building and youth empowerment in the country.
Read also: Shareholders to get bumper dividend as pioneer tax to boost Dangote Cement profit
Edwin urged the beneficiaries to be more focused and diligent in whatever they do and serve as frontier to others, saying, “With the tools given to you today, you can be good ambassadors of this great community. So many graduates outside are still searching for jobs, but yours is different because you have been trained.
“We are good to give you our maximum support to ensure you are employed in our operations, as our host communities remains our priority. The skills given to you today can take you to various places and attract better opportunity if managed effectively.”
He also said they should commit themselves to continuous learning and development as the business environment changes frequently, and promised to assist them to succeed.
According to Edwin, as the petroleum refining and fertilizer complex comes on stream, it is expected that will be a population boom in the surrounding communities, who requires the services and services of the trainees.
Babajide Sanwo-olu, Lagos State governor, promised to employ the 200 youths of Ibeju-lekki community who graduated from various skill acquisition in the Lekki Free Trade Zone at the event.
