Dangote, VDMA move to build skilled workforce   

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) and German Equipment Manufacturers Association (VDMA) have formally opened the Train-the-Trainer (Didactic & Rhetoric) Course (ToT) under the Dangote VDMA Initiative on Technical Education & Vocational Training (TVET).

The programme, which took place at the Dangote Academy Complex, Obajana, Kogi State recently, is a culmination of a project, which started on February 10th, 2016 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DIL and VDMA.

The two parties had expressed their desire to promote and enhance technical vocational education and TVET in order to develop a skilled workforce in Nigeria.

Accordingly, the TVET Agreement was later signed in November 2016 for the training of 200 Nigerian youths as Technicians while the National Office granted the approval for the registration and implementation of the agreement for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) on 11th, October 2017.

The two firms described the commencement of the ToT as a major milestone in the effort to fully implement the Project – Dangote VDMA Initiative.

The other milestones of the project being expected later this year include conduct of Aptitude Tests for the admission of candidates (September, 2018), second batch of the ToT (October, 2018), delivery of workshop equipment and tools (October, 2018), full scale launch of the Project (November, 2018) and commencement of training of the 200 Trainees in December, 2018.

The event had in attendance representatives of VDMA, NOTAP, Management Team of DCP, Obajana and some other BUs in Obajana.

The Director-General, NOTAP undertook a tour of the Dangote Academy Complex as well as a Plant tour during which he met past and present Trainees of the Dangote Academy.

He expressed satisfaction with the pace setting initiative of the Dangote Group in the effort to develop technical and engineering skills in Nigeria.