About 200 youths from Ibeju-Lekki community in Lagos State have graduated from various skills acquisition programmes organised by Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a way of transforming society and providing employment opportunities for the youths.
The programme was put together by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and facilitated by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Nigerian Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB).
The programme, which cut across a wide range of vocational skills such as plumbing, welding, iron bending, auto mechanics and electrical works, marked the successful completion of the first batch of training.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Dangote Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, said the initiative was a demonstration of the Refinery’s commitment towards capacity-building and youth empowerment in the country.
He urged the graduands to be more focused and diligent in whatever they do and serve as frontier to others.
“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 going to give you our maximum support to ensure you are employed in our operations, as our host communities remain our priority. These skills given to you today, can take you to various places and attract better opportunities if managed effectively,” he said.
Also at the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State promised to employ the 200 youths of Ibeju-Lekki community who graduated from the various skills acquisition programmes in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by Dr. Tunde Sodade, Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone Worldwide, said the governor was passionate about employing youths through skilled vocational training.