In line with its policy to create opportunities for gainful employment for the teeming jobless youths in the country, Dangote Group is set to recruit about 2000 Nigerians into its Academy to fill its transport division needs.
The scheme, which will revolutionalize the road transport sub-sector of the economy, is designed to improve the professionalism in the transport division of Dangote Industries Limited by engaging graduates and other educated Nigerians as drivers after months of training.
The recruitment, which will be conducted by Dangote Academy, a centre of excellence for talent development in Dangote Group, will see physically fit graduates in several disciplines being shortlisted for the training to be jointly undertaken by various agencies dealing with road transportation.
Spokesman of Dangote Group Tony Chiejina said: “The academy seeks to provide the talent pipeline for the group while filling the industrial skill-gap in Nigeria. As a result, the Academy just initiated a project called, “The Drivers Academy” which aims at recruiting and training 2,000 Nigerian graduates to become professional heavy-duty vehicle drivers for the newly established Super Fleet of the Group.
“It is hoped that this initiative will assist to uplift the operating standards in road transport industry, promote entrepreneurship and open up various career opportunities.”
He explained that Dangote Academy would be partnering the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria to offer intensive training programme to the successful candidates on safe and defensive driving, as well as basic vehicle maintenance and upkeep.
“Road regulatory agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Federal Vehicle Inspection Office (FVIO) are collaborating with NITT to provide a comprehensive training package. On completion of training, successful candidates would be issued with heavy vehicle driving license and offered employment in Dangote Transport”, he said.
Dangote Transport operates an exclusive haulage business to meet the transportation needs of the group with a fleet of over 5,000 trucks. Its activities include facilitating transportation of raw materials from the ports to the factories and the distribution of finished goods to warehouses, depots and customers across the country.
Dangote Academy was established as part of efforts to strengthen and develop the nation’s industrial sector. The first phase of the academy saw young, talented and craft-oriented National Diploma (ND) holders exposed to intensive, practical training and skill acquisition in various technical areas for a period of 12 months starting from its cement plant at Obajana in Kogi State.
