Nestlé Technical Training Centre Holds Maiden Graduation Ceremony

Nestlé, the leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company held its maiden graduation ceremony for graduates of its new Technical Training Centre located within its Agbara factory on the 12^th of July, 2013. A total of thirteen students out of the initial sixteen students completed the 18-month multi-skill training, tailored along the syllabus of the City and Guilds of London Technicians Examinations Certificates.  The programme is open to young Ordinary National Diploma holders in Nigeria in the Electro/Mechanical/Automation Engineering Trade. The programme is supported by the Swiss government under its Swiss- Nigeria Bilateral Agreement. The Swiss government sponsors the top five students in each batch to undergo a three month internship in Nestlé factories in Switzerland.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Head of Human Resources, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Marie Owoniyi commended the graduates for their hard work and diligence throughout the course. Mrs Owoniyi charged the graduates to utilise their newly acquired skills and continue to make a positive difference wherever they find themselves.

The representative from the Industrial Training Fund, Mrs Dipeolu commended the efforts of Nestlé Nigeria Plc and the Swiss Embassy for the capacity building initiative through its Nestlé Technical Training Centre.  “Programmes such as this one offered by the Nestlé Technical Training Centre help to fill the skills gap in the technical sector because the students are exposed to highest education standards and get to apply their skills through the in industrial training component.” She said.

Chima Uche, a graduate of the Nestlé Technical Training Centre speaking on behalf of the class thanked Nestlé for the opportunity to get hands on and practical training during the course.  “We have received your education and are equipped to take on the world. A solid foundation has been laid for the future on which we must independently design and build on.” Mr. Uche added.  Describing his experience in Switzerland, he said, “Apart from the exposure to industrial processes, equipment and how they work, I have also learnt how to adapt to cultural differences.”

Raphael Omaballa describing his experience during the 18 months: “There couldn't be a better learning experience than that which the program offered. We had a conducive environment, intelligent and practical oriented facilitators, standard learning materials and workshops/laboratories equipped with the best training workbenches and machines.”

In his closing remarks, Antonio Villalobos, Agbara Factory Manager, Nestlé Nigeria Plc. encouraged the graduates not to relent in their efforts. He advised them to imbibe the values of hard work, teamwork, discipline and leadership in their future endeavours.

The Nestlé Technical Training Programme serves to impact the students with engineering practical knowledge and skills by involving them in theoretical and practical training and providing them with industrial experience in the various plants within our factory. Furthermore, the programme serves to instill in the students discipline, character, and social skills and help them improve their personal effectiveness through training. The centre also serves as an avenue to train and retrain current Nestlé staff to increase their technical skills and competences, and to enable them become polyvalent in their skill sets.

Of the thirteen graduating students, twelve have been gainfully employed and one had decided to pursue further education. A new set of sixteen students will commence studies in August 2013.

Dr Samuel Adenekan,

Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Nestlé Nigeria Plc