Nestlé Technical Training Centers (TTC) at Agbara and Abaji are a major part of the company’s efforts towards ensuring that youths are future-ready. To bridge the technical skills gap, participants receive vocational training in machining, mechanical fitting operations, electrical operations, instrumentation operations, and automation. The training follows an intensive 18-month theoretical and practical engineering syllabus, which culminates in the prestigious City and Guilds of London technician certification.
Recently, at the graduation of batch four of its Technical Training Center in Ogun State, Nestlé Nigeria reiterated its commitment to youth empowerment under its global flagship program, ‘Nestlé Needs Youth’ which aims to help 10 million young people worldwide access economic opportunities by 2030.
Through Nestlé Needs youth initiatives, the company has reached over 12,000 young Nigerians through career fairs, entrepreneurship programmes, and skills training, equipping them to and decent employment or profitable entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the graduation, Mr. Sola Akinyosoye, Nestlé Nigeria’s Head of Human Resources, said, “Nestlé is determined to help young people develop future-ready skills that will position them to find decent employment or create their businesses if they choose to do so”
Top graduating student, Taiwo Olayade, said, “The training programme was a great boost to my intellectual prowess and has broadened my sphere of academic knowledge, thus giving me a professional edge in the corporate world. Having been trained in Nigeria and Switzerland, I am confident to say that I have acquired the needed skills and outstanding practical experience for employability in this great programme”.
Nestlé Nigeria PLC opened its first Technical Training Center at its Agbara factory in 2011 and the Abaji center in 2017 to reach more participants. The programme has been supported by the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria since inception and recently got the attention of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) which supports the training center in Abaji in collaboration with Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA). To date, over 100 participants have completed the programme with over 90 percent employed directly by Nestlé.