Nestle Nigeria Empowering The Youth To Achieve Financial Freedom Through Employability Trainings, Sports Sponsorships
Graduates from Nestle Technical Training Centre displaying their Certificates acquired after training
By EDET UDOH
Nestlé Nigeria has continued to demonstrate its commitment to youth empowerment through skill development and sports sponsorships, underscoring the level of importance the company attaches to youth development and their financial freedom, aimed at enhancing their capacity to contribute to the national economy.
This, the Company has done over the years, through its various programmes and initiatives, targeted at youth empowerment, the core of our focus in this article being the technical training at the Nestle Technical Training Centre (TTC) in Agbara, Ogun State and Agbaji, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and its continued sponsorship of Milo Basketball Championship every year, among other initiatives.
Since the inception of the programme in 2011, the company has invested over six billion naira in upskilling young Nigerians, demonstrating its dedication to fostering the next generation of skilled professionals, aimed at empowering them to achieve financial independence and contribute to the national economy.
The recent graduation ceremony of ten young trainees from its Technical Training Centre (TTC) in Agbara, increased the total number of graduates from the Agbara TTC this year to thirty, contributing to the over 200 young professionals who have completed the programme since its inception. Notably, 97% of the programme’s graduates have been employed within Nestlé Nigeria, illustrating the programme’s success and impact.
Nestle Technical Training Centre allows trainees to participate in an intensive 18-month program which builds their competence in machining, mechanical fitting operations, electrical operations, instrumentation operations and automation.
The programme leads to the prestigious London City and Guilds technical certification with the top five graduates of each batch undergoing a further three-month internship programme at a Nestlé factory in Switzerland, sponsored by the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the labour force participation rate among the working-age population declined to 79.5% in Q3 2023 compared to 80.4% in Q2 2023.
The employment-to-population ratio was 75.6% in Q3 2023 with a decrease of 1.5% compared to a ratio of Q2 2023.
The combined rate of unemployment and time-related underemployment as a share of the labour force population (LU2) increased to 17.3% in Q3 2023 from 15.5% in Q2 2023.
About 87.3% of workers were self-employed in Q3 2023. The proportion of workers in Wage Employment in Q3 2023 was 12.7%
The unemployment rate increased significantly in Q3 2023 at 5.0%. This is an increase of 0.8% from Q2 2023.
The rate of unemployment among persons with post-secondary education was 7.8% in Q3 2023
The unemployment rate among youth aged (15-24 years) was 8.6% in Q3 2023. Increase of 1.4% compared to Q2 2023.
The unemployment rate in urban areas was 6.0% in Q3 2023, a slight increase of 0.1% from Q2 2023.
Time-related underemployment in Q3 2023 was 12.3%, showing a slight increase of 0.5% from the rate recorded in Q2 2023. This shows an increase of 1.4% compared to the rate in Q4 2022.
4.1% of the working-age population was in subsistence agriculture in Q3 2023. Informal employment rate in Q3 2023 was 92.3%, while Q2 2023 was 92.7%.
The percentage of youth Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET Rate) was 13.7% in Q3 2023.
The continued rise in the number of unemployed youths in the country has been of serious concern to Nestle Nigeria, hence its commitment to youth empowerment.
Graduating in the second stream of the seventh batch of the programme these young men and women completed an intensive 18-month programme that blends theoretical and practical engineering education. This rigorous training, which culminates in the City and Guilds of London Technicians’ Certification, significantly enhances the employability of the participants.
Beyond the Technical Training Centre, Nestlé’s dedication to youth empowerment is also reflected in its broader youth engagement platform – Nestlé Needs Youths Launched in 2013, this initiative aims to help young people access economic opportunities, focusing on four pillars: getting them hired, skilled, supported, and providing them with more opportunities. Through various programmes under this banner, Nestlé reaches an average of 25,000 youths annually.
Under Nestle Needs YOUth programme, the Company is aimed at helping 10 million young people around the world access economic opportunities by 2030 through employment and employability agripreneurship and entrepreneurship.
Nestle believes that young people are at the heart of regeneration and our future. They are the entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow and the next generation of farmers who will feed our growing population in sustainable ways. They help their communities thrive and their fresh ideas, diverse perspectives and energy benefit Nestlé. By giving them the skills, knowledge and opportunities to succeed, they can improve personal economic circumstances as well as the social development in their communities.
Through The Global Alliance for YOUth initiative, Nestle is working with other organizations to help millions of young people around the world find a job, thrive in the workplace or start a business. Led by Nestlé, the alliance of 25 like-minded companies provides training, nurtures young entrepreneurs and offers first job opportunities.
Under apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities, the number of youths that benefited has been remarkable thus: In 2021 (11,598); 2022 (11,495) and 2023 (10,807).
Between 2021 and 2023, findings showed that over four million young people were impacted by Nestle through digital events that focus on upskilling young people and making them more employable.
That is not all, in 2023, 8,464 young farmers were trained through Nestle Agripreneurship programme.
Since 2017, over 10 million youths around the world have been empowered with access to economic opportunities, while about 90,000 entrepreneurs have received some basic but tangible benefits from Nestle.
Speaking at the TTC graduation, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director/CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, spoke Nestle is committed to empowering the young people.
He said, “Our investment in upskilling these bright young minds over the last 13 years not only reflects our firm belief in the potential of the next generation but our commitment to enabling them to thrive.
“By bridging the technical skills gap in the industry, we are not only enhancing the employability of our youth but also empowering them to achieve financial independence, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and society at large. This is one of the ways we are creating shared value.”
Highlighting the significance of these efforts, Mr. Shakiru Lawal, the Country Human Resources Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, stated, “We are playing our part to cushion the impact of economic challenges on the youth and prepare them for the future. Some of these initiatives include our Nesternship Programme , Nestlé Youth Development Programme, and our active participation in the Alliance for Youth Nigeria initiative. In all, we reach over 25,000 youth annually.”
He added that all graduates in this batch had also been employed by Nestlé Nigeria. “They have earned their place through dedication and excellence, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the Nestlé family.”
In his address, delivered by the Director of State Schools Sports, Comrade Rotimi Okeleye Olarotimi, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Adelaja Arigbabu, commended the Nestlé Technical Training Centre for its commitment to empowering young minds.
He also applauded the efforts of the graduates: “To the graduates, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to you. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have paid off, and you should be proud of your achievements. The skills and training you have acquired in the Nestlé Technical Training Centre is a powerful tool that can shape your future and open doors to new possibilities. I implore you to strive for excellence in all your endeavours and make a positive impact in your chosen field.”
Also present at the ceremony were His Excellency, the Alagbara of Agbara, Oba Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, and representatives from the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA, and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), whose unwavering support has been instrumental to the success of the Technical Training Programme.
Apart from other initiatives Nestle have been using to empower the youth, I have discovered that sports sponsorships have contributed significantly to empowering the youth.
Nestlé Nigeria, in the past two decades, has been at the forefront of grassroots sports development in Nigeria through the Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship which has helped significantly in shaping a healthier and happier generation of Nigerians by encouraging them to participate in sporting activities.
Apart from encouraging the youth to participate in sporting activities, MILO Basketball Championship also provides a platform to help children and youth imbibe values that set the right foundation for their future such as grit – perseverance through hardship, courage to overcome fear, ability to work in a team, self-belief/confidence, respect, and leadership ability.
The MILO Basketball Championship which started with less than 500 schools in 1999 now brings together over 10,000 schools yearly. The MILO Basketball Championship has grown tremendously and now reaches over 150,000 individual players from over 10,000 schools across Nigeria yearly.
Nestlé Nigeria PLC through its MILO Basketball Championship hosted every year has made significant contributions to the growth of sports in Nigeria and the creation of a bright future for young people by supporting and promoting basketball in schools thereby allowing them to make a lifetime career in Basketball and other sporting activities.
Every year, schoolboys and girls in various parts of the country look forward with excitement and enthusiasm to participating in Africa’s biggest grassroots basketball championship. So far, winners have emerged across six geo-political zones of Nigeria including Abuja.
The Championship has produced some of the best basketball talent in Nigeria, some of whom have gone on to play in Nigeria’s National Team and various international basketball leagues, including the National Basketball League (NBL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Nestle Nigeria over the years has been commended by governments and individuals for this laudable gesture for Nigerian youths.
The Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mr. Wassim El-Husseini, while speaking at one of the press conferences organised by Nestle Nigeria to flag off one of the Championships, highlighted the objectives of the Championship and also pledged the company’s commitment to ensuring continuity.
“Since 1999, Nestlé has been at the forefront of grassroots sports development in Nigeria through the Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools’ Basketball Championship.
“We continue to do our utmost to help shape a healthier and happier generation of Nigerians by encouraging them to participate in sporting activities. MILO Basketball Championship also provides a platform to help children imbibe values that set the right foundation for their future. They learn grit – perseverance through hardship, courage to overcome fear, ability to work in a team, self-belief, respect, and leadership.”
Also speaking at the press conference, the Category Manager, Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Mr. Olutayo Olatunji said “The MILO Basketball Championship now brings together over 10,000 schools every year. This Championship started with less than 500 schools in 1999. The school game has grown beyond being just a sport to a passion that helps to discipline the body and mind. We thank our long-standing partners – the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), and the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF) who have been part of the success of the MILO Basketball Championship.”
According to the National President of the Nigeria Schools’ Sports Federation, Olabisi Joseph, Nestlé Nigeria PLC has made significant contributions to the growth of sports in Nigeria and the creation of a bright future for young people by supporting and promoting basketball in schools.
“Every year, our schoolboys and girls look forward to participating in the biggest grassroots basketball championship in Africa, which is fondly called MILO Basketball,” she added.
Winners of 2024 Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship: Girls’ Category celebrating with their trophy
Mr. Lanre Balogun, Executive Secretary of the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NSSF), speaking at the press conference organised to announce the commencement of the Championship in 2022, commended Nestle for its contribution to the development of sports in Nigeria and called on other corporate entities in the country to emulate them.
He said, ”This Championship continues to grow from strength to strength, thanks to the commitment of our sponsors, Nestlé Nigeria PLC. We will all agree that 22 years of continuous sponsorship in the life of any organization is highly commendable and worthy of emulation. Therefore, Nestlé Nigeria PLC deserves all the accolades for maintaining the sponsorship of this event.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. C. A. Abioye thanked Nestlé for their invaluable support over the years. She also called on other corporate bodies to follow in their footsteps by supporting school sports.
Mrs. Abioye said, “The Oyo State Government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Sports is taken to higher heights. One such effort is the upgrading of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, including the Indoor Sports Hall, the venue of this programme. The government encourages students’ participation in sports by supporting inter-house sports competitions, which are yielding favourable results in students’ performance at competitions”.
The growing success of the Championship is due greatly to the efforts of the partners/stakeholders including the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF) and the Ministries of Sports, Youth Development and Education in the various States. These organisations have worked tirelessly with MILO to bring awareness to basketball in Nigeria, making Nigeria one of the leading Basketball nations in the world.
In 2023, according to the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Nigeria was said to have had the highest number of players in Africa playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) league. NBA is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams. It is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered the premier professional basketball league in the world.
Also, the global governing body, the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) in 2021, ranked Nigeria as Africa’s top men’s basketball nation. After the 2016 Olympic Men’s Basketball Tournament in Rio, Nigeria was ranked 16th in the FIBA World Rankings, making them the top climber in FIBA rankings from 2015.
Presently, Nigeria is the only African nation to beat the United States. Nigeria is also the first African team to qualify for the Summer Olympics through the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. This was accomplished at the 2012 Event when Nigeria beat the world elite teams of Lithuania and Greece. In 2015, Nigeria won its first crown as the basketball champion of Africa. All these wouldn’t have been possible if there were no basketball players, so thanks to Nestle Nigeria’s support of grassroots sports and contribution to the development of basketball players in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the 2024 edition of the Milo Baseball Championship which took place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, saw nearly 12,000 schools participating, showcasing a thrilling display of young talent.
According to premiumtimesng.com, after a series of intense matches across local governments, states, and zones, champions finally emerged with Ijaiye Housing Estate Grammar School, Lagos, topping the chart in the boys’ category, while Dom Domingos College, Delta State emerging winner in the girls’ category.
Both teams displayed not only exceptional skills but also remarkable tenacity and discipline. Fans at the National Stadium were on the edge of their seats throughout the boys’ final.
Ijaiye Housing Estate Grammar School started strong, scoring the first basket and three-pointer. Father O’Connell Science College, Niger State, quickly countered, keeping the game close.
Winners of 2024 Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship: Boys’ Category celebrating with their trophy.
The first quarter ended with Niger leading 11-7.The second quarter was a tightly contested battle, ending with Niger holding a narrow 20-16 lead at halftime.
Lagos came out firing in the third, taking the lead with a three-pointer and additional points.
They dominated this quarter, winning it 12-3 and heading into the final quarter with a 28-23 advantage.
The drama continued in the final minutes. With barely two minutes left, the score was tied at 32-32.
Just as it seemed Niger might snatch victory, Lagos clawed their way back, forcing overtime at 38-38.
The extra time belonged to Lagos. They displayed incredible resilience, scoring eight straight points to take a commanding 46-38 lead.
Though Niger fought back, closing the gap to 46-45 with a minute remaining, Lagos held on for a thrilling 49-45 victory.
In the girls’ category, Dom Domigos College faced off against the defending champions, Topfield College, Ajegunle, Lagos.
Topfield got off to a strong start, leading by nine points in the first quarter.
However, Dom Domigos College didn’t back down. They fought back, eventually emerging victorious with a final score of 44-38.
The winning teams and players were ecstatic about their achievements, crediting their success to hard work, teamwork, and perseverance.
Players expressed their gratitude for the support of coaches and the value of the Milo Basketball Championship experience.
Nestlé Nigeria Plc’s Managing Director, Wassim El-Husseini, commended the participants’ sportsmanship and congratulated everyone involved.
He emphasised the championship’s role in fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and excellence.
He also highlighted Nestlé’s commitment to empowering the next generation of athletes by instilling values like perseverance, endurance, and teamwork through initiatives like the Milo Basketball Championship.
“At Nestlé, we are deeply committed to our values. We believe in a culture of inclusivity, culture of collaboration and excellence. Our passion constantly drives us to innovate and create a positive impact in the lives of young athletes through initiatives like the Milo Basketball Championship as we strive to empower the next generation as we instil value perseverance, endurance and teamwork,” he said.
Aside from the fanfare and fireworks, the Milo championship also featured a special category for young people with disabilities, highlighting its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The winners walked away with a championship trophy, cash prizes, basketball kits, and an array of MILO goodies.
Indeed, Basketball has been affirmed as a veritable tool used in curbing insurgency, youth restiveness and unemployment in the northern region of Nigeria.
This assertion was made by the North East zone representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Alhaji Abba Kaka.
Kaka who is the Chairman of the Borno State Basketball Association made this known while addressing stakeholders at the Annual General Meeting of the association in Maiduguri.
According to him, Nigeria has a young population which is a blessing in disguise if well harnessed. This population can channel their energy into sports such as basketball which will not only solve the problem we face as a nation but turn to a goldmine in boosting the economy.
“The recent nationwide protest by youths across Nigeria is an indication of an urgent need to address youth restiveness if we are to avoid the landmine ahead,” Kaka said.
With Mr. Kaka’s submission, it means that Nestle Nigeria, through its Milo Basketball Championship, has contributed immensely to the reduction of youth unemployment, insurgency and restiveness thereby promoting peace and security in Nigeria.
This also underscores the need for other corporate entities to emulate what Nestle Nigeria is doing especially in the area of youth empowerment through sports, entrepreneurship and technical training. This will go a long way in making the youth productive and self-reliant thereby contributing to building thriving communities, engendering prosperity and building the Nigeria of our dreams.
