BUA Cement company, Kalambaina -Sokoto, on Monday launched its ‘Host Communities Empowerment Scheme’, with the training of sixty youths on driving specialised vehicles from its host communities.
Its Managing Director, Mr Yusuf Binji, said the initiative was to equip them to acquire skills for employment in the company as well as other places.
Binji, who was represented by the Plant Director, Mr Aminu Bashar, said at different occasions the company had advertised employment opportunities, adding, “however, most people from the host communities could not apply.”
He said the programme was designed to empower local youth$s by equipping them with employable skills in heavy-duty machinery operation, including driving, repairing, and maintaining excavators and tippers.
He said the trainees would also be empowered to operate excavators at the quarry sites and others.
According to Binji, the exercise was for six months and each beneficiary would be collecting N150,000 every month as a training allowance.
He described the initiative as a rare opportunity for the participants to acquire valuable skills and secure meaningful employment in the contemporary competitive job market.
He said that at the end of the week-long exercise, the trainees would be allowed to choose working with the company or look for jobs elsewhere.
The managing director expressed optimism that the exercise would be continued and expanded to other services for the host communities to benefit with the company’s presence within their domain.
In his remark, the Quarry Manager, Muhammad Chinoko, said the exercise was suitable for youths, adding that it would broaden their exposure and attract others to compete for jobs in the company.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Attahiru Ladan, from Asare community, thanked the company for the opportunity and assured to do their best to learn and practise the skills.
Ladan said the opportunity would surely enhance their well-being as well as their family members.
He described training as a life-transforming initiative, praising the impact of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts on its host communities.
Truthng reports that the event witnessed the presentation of safety tips, discussion on human resource development and other issues.
