Nestlé Nigeria Plc has marked the 15th anniversary of its Technical Training Initiative with a cumulative investment exceeding N6bn aimed at youth empowerment, vocational excellence and technical skill development across Nigeria.
The milestone coincided with the graduation of 20 trainees from the company’s Abaji Factory Technical Training Centre, following a similar graduation ceremony recently held at its Flowergate Factory in Sagamu.
According to a statement issued by the company on Tuesday, the initiative has expanded to cover three major industrial hubs, including the pioneer training centre established in Agbara in 2011. Since inception, the programme has equipped 309 young Nigerians with engineering and manufacturing skills.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Wassim Elhusseini, described the initiative as a strategic investment that has strengthened both the company’s operations and the wider manufacturing sector.
“Over the past 15 years, we have seen firsthand how this pipeline of talent has strengthened our operations, built critical capabilities within the industry, and created meaningful pathways for young people to thrive,” he said.
Elhusseini urged the graduating trainees to continue developing their skills in response to evolving industrial demands.
“As you graduate today, you are stepping into an industry that depends on skill, discipline, innovation, and excellence. The skills you have gained through this programme provide a strong foundation, but your success will depend on your willingness to keep learning, adapting, and applying yourselves,” he added.
The 18-month programme combines classroom learning with hands-on technical training in food technology, engineering and manufacturing operations. Graduates also earn the internationally recognised City and Guilds of London Technicians’ Certification.
The Country Human Resource Manager at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Shakiru Lawal, said the initiative has become a long-term strategy for building technical capacity in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
“At Nestlé, youth development is not a one-off intervention; it is a long-term commitment to building skills, expanding opportunity, and preparing young people for the future of work,” Lawal stated.
He disclosed that 98 per cent of graduates from the Technical Training Centre move directly into full-time employment within the company.
The latest graduating class from the Abaji centre recorded equal gender representation, with 10 men and 10 women completing the programme.
The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Patrick Egloff, praised the company’s commitment to inclusion in technical education.
“One of the most inspiring aspects of today’s ceremony is the clear demonstration that technical excellence belongs equally to young women and young men,” Egloff said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, reaffirmed the association’s partnership with Nestlé Nigeria in promoting technical skills development.
The Technical Training Initiative forms part of the global “Nestlé Needs YOUth” programme launched in 2013 to provide economic opportunities and skills training to 10 million young people worldwide by 2030.
