DANGOTE ACADEMY TO BECOME A UNIVERSITY

The Dangote Academy will metamorphose into a university, the Director of the Academy, Mr. Paramjit Pabby, has said.Speaking on the sideline of the inauguration of the 22 new trainees into the Dangote Academy at Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State, Pabby said the vision of the Academy is to help bridge the skill gap needed for industrial take off in the country.
“We are creating talent pipelines for Dangote companies and for others in Nigeria,” he said.
The inaugurated young engineers, who passed through rigorous selection process were graduates of Electrical, Mechanical and chemical engineering from Nigerian universities and polytechnics.
He said the inaugurated Graduate Engineers will have the opportunity of learning practical and relevant skills in 12 months after which they will be absorbed into the Group.
The Dangote Academy runs Graduate Engineer Trainees Scheme (GET), Junior Technicians Scheme (JTS), Management Skills and Leadership training among others.

Speaking, Head of Management Development of the Academy, Mr. Hassan Salisu, said the philosophy behind starting the Academy was to support the Nigeria’s educational system by emphasizing practical application of knowledge and skills.

He said the absorbed graduates have started adding value to the company, adding that they Dangote Group may need not to shop for engineers outside the shores of Nigeria in the nearest future.

Fielding questions from newsmen also, Assistant General Manager (AGM) Training of the Dangote Cement Plc Engr Haruna Adinoyi said the phase I and II of the Dangote Academy campus is expected to accommodate about 550 trainees at a go.

He said so far about 450 Graduate Trainees and Junior Technicians have been trained and absorbed; about 150 are currently undergoing training at different levels; while 300 trainees are expected to join later in the year.

Experts say Dangote University when formerly established will support the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan(NIRP) of the Federal Government.

He said the council had mapped out strategies to ensure that local manufacturers in Nigeria and small and medium enterprises were carried along to achieve its goals.

The deputy director said the council would work with manufacturing groups such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and other stakeholders.

“This is to ensure that locally-made goods compete favourably with imported ones and those of other countries across the border.

“In all discussions and engagements involving stakeholders in the country’s manufacturing sector, numerous suggestions on how to enhance competitiveness of locally-made products have been made prominent.

“Most importantly, this is to strengthen the value of our local manufacturers as well as improve the country’s economic development,” he said.