Our Priority Is To Eradicate Youth Unemployment -Dangote

Dangote Group’s Executive Director, Commercial Operations, Hajia Fatima Aliko-Dangote, has reiterated the company’s determination to eradicate the high youth unemployment in the country. She said, it is only when youths are positively engaged, that the high insecurity problems in the country will fade away. Fatima, who made this disclosure at the just concluded Lagos International Trade Fair during the “Dangote Day”, said since inception, the desire of the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, was to assist the three tiers of government in the country, in eradicating poverty, and the best way for Dangote Group to do this, will be to contribute to eradicating youth unemployment in the country. Noting that Dangote is the highest employer of labour in Nigeria, outside the Federal Government, she said, the priority of the Group is to create more employment opportunities for the teeming Nigerian youths and make them breadwinners of their respective families. According to her: “The desire of our President, Aliko Dangote, is to ensure that Nigerian youths are ably employed, because it is only when this happens, that they can also contribute their own quota to the growth and development of the county. And once the youths are also positively engaged, the security challenges of the country will abate.” Fatima, further said the Group is passionate about deepening the Nigerian economy through industrialisation, job creation, provision and rehabilitation of essential infrastructure, and the welfare of the citizens.  According to her, “It is the desire to promote industrialisation that informs our decision to become strategic partners with all the major Chambers of Commerce across the nation.”  She also said: “Our investment decisions at Dangote Group, are focused on creating values for all stakeholders. We have invested in several projects which are meant to create jobs and enhance the rapid industrialisation of the Nigerian economy. Dangote Cement Plc remains the continent’s foremost cement producer, with operations in 10 African countries. “The activities of the cement company through its multiplier effect, provide direct and indirect employment to millions of people across Africa. Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) interventions, Dangote Cement has touched the lives of thousands of people in host communities across Africa. The company has built schools, hospitals & clinics, roads, markets, and vocational training centres in host communities.”, she stated. Reacting to what Fatima Aliko Dangote said, Dr Micheal Olawale-Cole, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said Dangote Group has created jobs more than any known private sector operators in the Country. He said the foremost indigenous conglomerate has contributed significantly to providing solutions to the problems of unemployment and by extension, to reducing the poverty levels among Nigerians. He said the decision of the company to venture into oil and gas would permanently put an end to the issue of petroleum scarcity in Nigeria and contribute substantially to the GDP and the overall economic growth and development of Nigeria. According to him, Dangote Group has been at the forefront of job creation even as its products and services have touched the lives of millions of people across the African continent and beyond.   He then enjoined other corporate bodies to toe the line of Dangote in assisting the Government, through the provision of infrastructure, even if it must be through a tax credit scheme, introduced by the Federal Government.

Blue Economy: Prof Pauli Tasks FG On Private Sector Partnership, Job Creation

The creator of Blue Economy, Prof Gunter Pauli, has said that, for the policy to succeed, the Federal Government must aggressively collaborate with the private sector to attract investment into the sector.  While hailing President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Pauli said in six months the ministry can facilitate the creation of a hundred thousand jobs by exploiting opportunities provided by the blue economy. Prof Pauli, who listed shipping, paper conversion from wastes and maggot farming for poultry and fishing as low hanging fruits, urged the ministry to embrace job and wealth creation.  In his remarks, the Minister of Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola expressed happiness on the interest shown by Prof Pauli in assisting the country tap its idle capacity from the oceans and the blue economy, while also promising to work with private investors in opening up the sector. “I want to say that it’s not by accident that this ministry was created. It was part of the economic diversification policy of our country. We believed so much in oil but we now realize that 70% or so of the resources available actually come from the ocean and we have it in abundance here but neglected it for long. “I must commend the president for creating the ministry. I want to assure you that we are up to the task and I believe so much in the PPP arrangement because government has no business in business. Government should just provide the enabling environment for business to thrive,” the minister said. He disclosed that efforts have been stepped up to improve transportation infrastructure, including automation of port operations for efficiency and increase in revenue. “We now have sufficient control over insecurity and I want to tell you that for the past two years there has been no record of piracy on our shores. That is re-assuring to investors. I also assure you that we are ready to collaborate with investors, we are willing and ready and we will support all the initiatives that will bring all this to reality,” the minister promised,” he said. 

RCL Safety Centre introduces in-country assembled fire trucks

*Guarantees local maintenance, fire drills A global leader RCL Safety Centre the global leader in Industrial Safety Products and emergency response has announced the launch of its new initiative— in-country assembled fire trucks with guaranteed local support, maintenance, and fire drills. The initiative it said, is meant for organizations, institutions, and individuals who believe in a culture of prevention of lives and properties as well as quick response to fire incidents. RCL Safety Centre is an international Health and Safety Centre dedicated to Industrial and Hazardous Safety Services for Manufacturing, Petrochemical, Oil and Gas, Marine Industries etc. Fire trucks are undeniably one of the most effective firefighting apparatus. The primary purposes of a fire truck include transporting firefighters, chemical(s), and water to an incident as well as carrying equipment for firefighting operations. Speaking of the fire trucks, Joe Oduah CEO of RCL Industrial Safety Centre Ltd told NAN that RCL was a global brand in industrial safety solutions, adding that the company is fully equipped to help preserve the lives and properties of organizations. “We’ve already established ourselves as a leader in industrial safety solutions, we are offering quick and cost-effective options to organizations without organizations having to incur the additional cost and time of importing fire trucks from abroad. “Our local support and maintenance programs are guaranteed to have your equipment fully functional and responsive. “To help preserve lives and properties of organizations, RCL Safety Centre fire trucks are available in single, dual, or triple agents combining water, powder, and chemicals with low- or high-pressure pumps to suit industrial or community applications. “Training and routine drills are provided to guarantee round-the-clock readiness,” he said. He said the aim of RCL was to partner with relevant authorities and agencies to provide fire trucks in every market, airports, refineries, fuel depots, industrial and residential estates etc., and to have the best vehicle(s) to respond to the risks in their area. “For instance, when Fire Control receives a call to an incident the nearest fire station does not respond in isolation, as they often do, and can be easily overwhelmed. “Our plan is to ensure that the resident fire truck(s) acts as a first responder while the needed support from nearby communities responds in addition,” he said.