Taiwo Hassan 
Nestlé Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young professionals in the country by investing over N6 billion in technical skill acquisition since 2011.
The company’s Technical Training Centre (TTC) in Agbara recently graduated ten young trainees, bringing the total number of graduates to over 190 since the program’s inception.
The 18-month program combines theoretical and practical engineering education, culminating in the City and Guilds of London Technicians’ Certification.
This rigorous training significantly enhances the employability of participants, with 97 per cent of graduates employed within Nestlé Nigeria.
Managing Director/CEO, Wassim Elhusseini, emphasised Nestlé’s dedication to bridging the technical skills gap in the industry, enabling young professionals to achieve financial independence and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Nestlé’s youth empowerment initiatives extend beyond the TTC, with the Nestlé Needs YOUth platform launched in 2013. This initiative aims to provide young people with economic opportunities, focusing on four pillars: getting them hired, skilled, supported, and providing more opportunities.
The company’s efforts have been commended by the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Adelaja Arigbabu, who applauded the graduates’ hard work and dedication.
The graduation ceremony was attended by representatives from the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and the Alagbara of Agbara, Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, highlighting the program’s impact and support from various stakeholders.
Nestlé’s investment in technical skill acquisition demonstrates its commitment to fostering the next generation of skilled professionals and creating shared value in the communities it operates in.
