From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, Mr. JV Gungune, on Thursday said the skill acquisition scheme was meant to supplement government’s efforts in its job creation.
Mr. Gungune said even though the job creation scheme aptly fits into the company’s vision and mission but the skill acquisition program is another way of creating employment for the people of Kogi State.
The Plant Director who enjoined beneficiaries to count themselves lucky to have been selected and trained in the program, however, charged them to ensure that the equipment provided by the company are put into proper use.
Speaking, the Head of Social Performance Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the empowerment is one in the series of several other interventions among host communities being executed by Dangote Cement Plc across Africa.
Mr. Olayiwola expressed optimism that the graduates will create a chain of other graduates through apprenticeship, therefore bolstering the job status of communities around the State.
General Manager, of Special Duties, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi said 10 women were selected each from Oyo, Iwaa, Apata, and Obajana, which makeup both the plant and the mining communities.
Mr. Adeyemi said the skill program was in partnership with the National Directorate for Employment(NDE).
On his part, NDE’s Kogi state Coordinator, Mr. Abubakar Zakari, said the participants received intensive training for three months, and described the training as a laudable program for women.
His Royal Highness, the Olu-Apata, Oba Dr. Frederick D.O. Balogun, expressed appreciation and pledged his community’s continuing support for the company.
The Bajana of Obajana Idowu Isenibi said the “joy of the community knows no bound while urging beneficiaries to make judicious use of the skill acquired from the program.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Titilayo Onimola, commended the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, while praying for God to continue to support him and make his businesses flourish.
