During the recent graduation ceremony of ten young trainees from its Technical Training Centre (TTC) in Agbara, Nestlé Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and skill development.
Thank you for visiting The Vestigator, don't forget to share!
The corporation has committed over six billion naira to upskilling young Nigerians since the program’s launch in 2011, showcasing its commitment to developing the country’s future workforce of highly qualified professionals. These young men and women, who graduated in the second stream of the seventh batch of the program, underwent a rigorous 18-month curriculum that combined theoretical and practical engineering study.
The participants’ employability is greatly improved by this demanding program, which culminates in the City and Guilds of London Technicians’ Certification. With the graduation of this batch, the Agbara TTC has graduated thirty people this year, bringing the total number of young professionals who have finished the program since its commencement to over 190. Remarkably, 97% of program graduates are now employed by Nestlé Nigeria, demonstrating the effectiveness and influence of the program.
“Our investment in upskilling these bright young minds over the last 13 years not only reflects our firm belief in the potential of the next generation but our commitment to enabling them to thrive,” stated Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director/CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, during his speech at the event. In addition to improving our youth’s employability, we are helping them to become financially independent and make significant contributions to their communities and society at large by closing the technical skills gap in the industry.
One method we use to create shared value is this. Nestlé’s commitment to youth development extends beyond the Technical Training Centre and is mirrored in its larger youth engagement platform, Nestlé Needs YOUth. This program, which was started in 2013, focusses on four key areas to assist young people in accessing economic possibilities: getting them employed, developing their skills, offering them support, and expanding their chances. Nestlé contacts 25,000 young people a year on average through various activities run under this umbrella.
Nestlé Nigeria’s Country Human Resources Manager, Mr. Shakiru Lawal, emphasised the importance of these initiatives by saying, “We are doing our part to cushion the impact of economic challenges on the youth and prepare them for the future.” Among these are the Nestlé Youth Development Program, our Nesternship Program, and our active involvement in the Alliance for Youth Nigeria program. We reach more than 25,000 young people a year overall. He continued by saying that every graduate in this cohort has worked for Nestlé Nigeria. “We are happy to have them join the Nestlé family; they have earned their spot through hard work and dedication.”
During the speech given by Comrade Rotimi Okeleye Olarotimi, the Director of State Schools Sports, Professor Abayomi Adelaja Arigbabu, the State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, praised the Nestlé Technical Training Centre for its dedication to fostering young minds. Additionally, he praised the grads’ achievements, saying, “To the graduands, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to you.” You should be proud of your accomplishments because they are the result of your tenacity, hard work, and dedication.
Your education and training from the Nestlé Technical Training Centre are invaluable assets that can mould your future and create new opportunities. I beg you to pursue greatness in all that you do and leave a lasting impression in the industry that you have chosen.
His Excellency, Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, the Alagbara of Agbara, and representatives from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), whose steadfast support has been crucial to the success of the Technical Training Program, were also present at the ceremony.
