With the induction of 100 new students yesterday at Obajana, Kogi State, the Dangote Academy has now trained over 700 engineers and technicians between 2011 and 2018, of which most of them have been employed.
This revelation came to fore yesterday when the new students were inducted at an event attended by state functionaries, directors of Dangote Group, community leaders from Obajana and Ibese, staff and the new students. This is coming as traditional leaders from Obajana, Kogi State and Ibese, Ogun State spoke glowingly of Dangote’s Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) in their various communities.
The inauguration of 100 new students under the Junior Technicians Scheme (JTS) Batches three and four, further supports host communities of Obajana and Ibese as 50 of the newly inducted trainees were drawn from the two communities.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, group executive director, capital projects, strategy and portfolio of Dangote Group, Mr. Devakumar Edwin said “the Dangote Academy was established in 2010 to serve as the talent pipeline for the Dangote Group while filling the industrial skills gap in Nigeria.”
He added that the academy has become necessary in view of the fact that the group and indeed most industries in Nigeria cannot rely solely on universities and colleges of technology to provide the specialised technical and managerial training required running major (modern) industrial factories.
According to him, the newly admitted Junior Technicians Batches three and four who will be undergoing the 18 months training programme in the hands of perhaps the most experienced Engineers in the world and in Cement Plants having modern equipment and using advanced technology. He said the Group through the Dangote Academy trained about 10, 000 employees in 2017 through delivered and supported training programmes.
In the execution of its academic programmes, the Dangote Academy, he said, is partnering with the German Association of Equipment Manufacturers (VDMA), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), among others.
Speaking, the head of the Academy, Mr. Hassan Salisu said, “during the period 2011 to 2017 more than 600 Trainees were admitted into different Technical Training lasting 12 to 18 months at the Dangote Academy and most of them were employed by the Group at the end of their training.”
He said: “The phenomenal expansion of the Group’s business all over the world, especially in Africa has also created opportunities for the Dangote Academy to expand both in geography and scope.” According to him, this is part of the Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility and contribution to the employability of Nigerian Engineers and Technicians.
The Group has contributed immensely to the educational development in Nigeria. The category of engineers being trained and employed by the Academy include: Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical and Mining.
