Dangote Refinery, NCDMB, NDE Begin Training Of 200 Youths In Host Communities

As part of its contribution to Nigeria content development initiative, Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical on Monday disclosed that the company, in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), have kicked-off of training for 200 youths in its host communities, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The company has disclosed that has so far awarded $368 million to 120 local contractors at the site .

Mr. Devakumar Edwin, the Group Executive Director, Strategy, Portfolio Development and Capital Projects, Dangote Industries Limited,  made this known during the tour of the Dangote Refinery by members of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR),  in Lagos.

He noted that the Refinery would lead to significant skills transfer and technology acquisition opportunities in the country.

Edwin, said there are several Nigerian content opportunities in the company’s refinery and petrochemical project.

He said the Group has embarked on a landmark integrated Refinery and Petrochemical project, regarded as the largest industrial complex in the history of Africa, which is expected to take Nigeria to new heights through the transformation of the economy.

“We have already trained and employed 250 artisans,” he added.

He disclosed the company’s intention to train 900 Nigerian engineers in India  , adding that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet 100 per cent of the Nigerian requirement of all liquid products, such as Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene & Aviation Jet and also would have surplus of each of these products for export.

According to him, the company is already partnering with the Lagos State government and Siemens in the skills development of the local community for employment at the construction site.

“The company has completed the overseas’ training of first and second batches of Nigerian engineers and are being acclimatised at site.

“The third batch left for India classroom training for one month, on the job training for one year and working in real time with experts in the industry every day,” he added.

He said that company has so far employed 3,580 Nigerian personnel on site.

“This excludes employment by the various contractors and subcontractors at the site,” he said.

He disclosed that the programme is meant to prepare the selected youth with vocational skills that will make them employable or self-employed.

According to the company, the youth are currently be trained in areas of plumbing, masonry, welding, iron bending, auto mechanics and electrical works because of the instant value addition to their lives and communities.