Mr Akintunde Oyebode, the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), says the Dangote Group in collaboration with its partner vendors are set to employ 350 LSETF Employability Support Project Trainees.
Oyebode disclosed to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos that the employment opportunity followed the completion of an eight-week intensive training exercise, organised by LSETF
He said that the 350 graduates of the LSETF Employability Support Project, participated in an interview with Dangote Group and the organisation’s partner vendors.
“The interview session involved graduates trained under the Manufacturing and Construction sectors of the Employability Support Project, vocational scheme held during a job fair held at Bibbycrest Event Centre, Ajah, Lagos, on May 14.
“The Employability Support Project, an initiative of the LSETF, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is designed to provide unemployed and underemployed youths in Lagos State with vocational skills training by well-certified and credible training partners.
“The project is managed by Arc Skills, a globally recognized skills training consultancy firm,” Oyebode added.
Oyebode, who commended the Dangote Group said that the Employability Support Project, would provide a viable platform to bridge the gap of shortage of skilled and employable labour required to fill the needs of the job market.
Oyebode said, “Manpower skills gap remained a significant issue for businesses operating in the state and we are pleased to see that world-class brands are satisfied with the quality of our trainees and the scheme in general.
`I enjoin other corporate organizations to follow Dangote’s lead in recruiting well trained and certified manpower that the Employability Support Project has produced and support the Lagos State Government in its effort to bridge the unemployment gap in the state.”
Also the Chief Executive Office (CEO) of Arc Skills Nigeria, Mr Amit Washington, represented by the General Manager, Mr Bolodeoku Ebunoluwa, said the move by Dangote and its partner vendors to employ trainees of the Employability Support Project, was a testament to the quality of the scheme.
“Today is another milestone for us, one of the many that has been achieved under this project, as we march towards creating sustainable employment for our youths.
“The vision for setting up this project, the first of its kind in Nigeria, is to increase the pool of employable graduates.
“As such, it is fulfilling that a multinational organization of Dangote’s calibre has shown interest in recruiting a large number of our trainees,” he said. (NAN)