Nestlé Nigeria Celebrates 6th batch of Technical Training Program Graduates

 

Picture - Agbara TTC: The graduating students

Press release – Nigeria – 15th December 2022 - Oluwadarasinmi Adesakin is a beneficiary of Nestlé

Nigeria’s 18-month Technical Training program which aims to bridge the skills gap by 

From left to right - Engr Martins Adeleke the City and Guilds Country Manager, Shakiru Lawal the Country HR Manager at Nestlé Nigeria PLC, HRM Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade the Alagbara of Agbara, Wassim Elhusseini, MD/CEO Nestlé Nigeria, Ibukun-Olu Ipinmoye the Agbara Factory Manager at Nestlé Nigeria PLC and Thomas Schneider the Consul General at the Consulate of Switzerland in Lagos

equipping youth with the required expertise to support industrialization. He is the best 

graduating student of Batch 6. 

A citizen of Oyo State in Western Nigeria, Darasinmi obtained his National Diploma in 

Mechanical Engineering from the Petroleum Training Institute in Warri, Delta State. 

Although he was already working, he aspired to develop himself further and was elated to 

be accepted into the technical training program. He therefore set his mind to make the best 

of the opportunity and to attain the best possible result. 

Darasinmi’s determination paid off as he finished his studies in flying colours, achieving a 

total of 29 distinctions, out of 36 courses in the City and Guilds examinations, the best result 

since the program started in 2011. 

“Today was a huge surprise for my father, Mr. Adesakin Adeoye, a Mechanical Engineer 

himself,” Darasinmi said. “He did not know I was the best graduating student or that I would 

be going to Switzerland for an internship program. He was so elated and could not hold 

back his joy. This, for me, was very fulfilling.” 

Oluwadarasinmi Adesakin was ecstatic as he joined his colleagues at the 6th graduation 

ceremony which took place at Nestlé Nigeria’s Technical Training Center in Agbara, Ogun 

State. All of the 20 trainees excelled at the Diploma 3, 4 and 5 examinations of London City 

and Guilds, obtaining distinctions in Thermodynamics, and the best overall results in West 

Africa. 

Speaking at the ceremony, the MD/CEO, Nestlé Nigeria, Mr Wassim Elhusseini said, “At 

Nestlé, we believe that young people have a key role to play in building thriving, resilient 

communities. Young people are our future, they are the entrepreneurs and innovators of 

tomorrow. They do not only help their communities thrive, but also benefit Nestlé with their 

fresh ideas, diverse perspectives, and energy. This is why we are passionate about helping 

them to build the capabilities and skills they need to contribute towards accelerating the 

industrialization we need to grow our economy.”

In his comments, Thomas Schneider, Consul General, Consulate of Switzerland in Lagos, 

said, “We are delighted that for eleven years on, this joint training program between the 

Switzerland Government and Nestlé Nigeria is still making impact on young people within 

the country, creating job opportunities.”

Inaugurated in 2011, The 18-month intensive program trains participants in machining, 

mechanical fitting operations, electrical operations, instrumentation operations and 

automation. The program culminates in the prestigious London City and Guilds technical 

certification with the top five graduates of each batch undergoing a further three-month 

internship program at a Nestlé factory in Switzerland, sponsored by the Swiss Embassy in 

Nigeria. 

Over 160 students have benefitted from the program since its inception, with over 90% of 

them directly employed by Nestlé Nigeria. All the participants of batch 6, 40% of them 

females, successfully completed the training and the top 5 performers will be undertaking 

an internship and mentoring program at Nestlé factories in Switzerland in the first few 

months of 2023. 95% of the graduates, including Darasinmi, have been employed by Nestlé 

Nigeria. 

Parents of the graduates, the Traditional Ruler of Agbara, and representatives of the Ogun 

State Government present at the event all expressed their appreciation of the value that the 

TTC has been adding over the past 11 years. 

The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi 

Arigbagbu, represented by the Zonal Education Officer, Ado-Odo Ota, Mr Olugbenga

Kikisuhu said, “Education is the bedrock of any meaningful social and economic 

development, and we all must accord education the priority it deserves. Nestlé Nigeria PLC 

has today taken another giant step on her journey of empowering young Nigerians for a 

better tomorrow by upskilling and employing the graduates. I congratulate the beneficiaries 

of this laudable technical training program and particularly appreciate the Management of 

Nestlé Nigeria PLC for her consistent contribution to educational development in the state.”

In his remarks, the Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Dr.

Kehinde Oluwadare, represented by Adetokunbo Salami, Director, Youth Development for 

the Ministry, said, “I am delighted to witness another batch of young Nigerians graduating 

from the Nestlé technical training program. Initiatives such as these are well aligned with 

the vision of the Ogun State Government on youth empowerment. I commend Nestlé for 

this sustained intervention which not only equips young people with relevant industry skills 

and expertise but is also providing economic and job opportunities.”

On his part, the Alagbara of Agbara, HRM Oba (Barr.) Lukman Jaiyeola Agunbiade,

commended Nestlé for the positive impact the company is making within the Agbara 

community, especially in capacity development and empowerment of young people. He 

described Nestlé Nigeria as a valued stakeholder, and congratulated all graduates, 

encouraging them to maximally utilize the opportunity provided by the company.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Oluwadarasinmi Adesakin, said, “We are grateful for 

this excellent platform created by Nestlé Nigeria for young Nigerians. The training program 

has been an unforgettable journey and a robust experience that has equipped my colleagues 

and I with knowledge, skills and core values such as integrity, leadership and accountability 

required to thrive in life. 

We are sincerely grateful to Nestlé, the Swiss Consulate and all the partners supporting this 

program. I commend all my colleagues for the passion, teamwork and dedication that has 

enabled us to successfully complete the program.”

End

About Nestlé Nigeria: 

Nestlé Nigeria PLC began simple trading operations in Nigeria in 1961 and has today grown into a leading food manufacturing and marketing company. It 

is the biggest food company in West Africa. The company employs around 2,300 people directly, and has 3 world-class factories. Nestlé Nigeria 

manufactures and markets a range of high-quality brands including: MAGGI, MILO, GOLDEN MORN, CERELAC, NESTLÉ PURE LIFE, and NESCAFÉ.