Youth unemployment is a global challenge, with a 12.8% youth unemployment rate in Nigeria alone as of 2023. Worldwide, organizations like the World Bank and the International Labour Organization (ILO) emphasize the importance of skills-based training programs to enhance youth employability. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2023 report highlighted the disproportionate impact of economic downturns on young workers, a situation that warrants urgent deliberate actions to tackle.
Fortunately, organisations like Nestlé Nigeria, a leader in food and beverage manufacturing in Africa, has demonstrated an uncompromising commitment to youth empowerment by investing over N6 billion in technical training for Nigerian youth. Since 2011, this substantial investment has shaped the futures of 190 young Nigerians at the company’s state-of-the-art Nestle Technical Training Centre (NTTC) in Agbara, Ogun State. The NTTC programme is designed to combine rigorous theoretical and practical engineering training over an 18-month period. In addition, Nestlé equips its trainees with skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability—qualities essential for the modern workforce.
Graduates receive the prestigious City and Guilds of London Technicians’ Certification, which enhances their employability on an international scale. This initiative addresses a critical challenge in Nigeria: bridging the technical skills gap among youth, a key obstacle to employment and economic growth, and aligns with the broader efforts of multinational corporations to support sustainable youth development, with Nestlé exemplifying a model that others can follow.
During a recent graduation ceremony for the NTTC’s seventh batch, Nestlé Nigeria’s Managing Director, Mr. Wassim El-Husseini, reiterated the company’s dedication to youth development. “Our investment of over six billion Naira in upskilling these bright young minds reflects our firm belief in the potential of the next generation,” El-Husseini stated. He also highlighted that 97% of the programme’s graduates have been employed within Nestlé Nigeria, providing them with the means to improve their livelihoods and contribute to their communities.
Nestlé’s investment in youth empowerment is not confined to Nigeria; it reflects a global strategy to address youth unemployment. Through its “Nestlé Needs Youth” platform, launched in 2013, the company has reached millions of young people worldwide with training, internships, mentoring, and job placement opportunities. The programme in Nigeria encompasses four pillars: “Get Hired,” “Get Skilled,” “Get Support,” and “Get More Opportunities.” In 2021, the company also became a founding member of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria, aiming to provide employability and entrepreneurship training to over 16,000 Nigerian youths annually.
Bibire Damilare, speaking for his fellow graduates, captures the essence of their training: “The exposure to world-class technical training facilities has opened our eyes to possibilities we never imagined existed within Nigeria.”
Beyond the Workshop
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Ibukun-Olu Ipimoye, the outgoing Factory Manager of Nestlé Nigeria, Agbara, sees beyond immediate employment gains. “These graduates carry our values into the industrial sector. They represent Nestlé’s commitment to excellence and innovation.”
In his keynote address, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, Ogun State’s Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, through his representative Mr. Okeleye Olarotimi, commended Nestlé for its commitment to youth development, calling the NTTC an example of how private-sector initiatives can shape the nation’s future.
Nestlé’s long-term commitment to youth empowerment is also evident in its 24-year investment in the MILO Basketball Championship, an initiative that promotes youth engagement through sports. This championship offers young Nigerians the opportunity to develop teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills that are essential for personal and professional growth.
Through initiatives like NTTC and partnerships with organizations such as the Ogun State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Nestlé Nigeria is setting a standard for corporate social responsibility in Africa.
