Dangote Cement Cameroon guarantees future for human resource with Graduate Trainee Program.

The company, through the program, creates excellent opportunities for graduates to pursue a professional career in a world-class enterprise with unparalleled opportunities for professional learning, development and progression in a high-tech, multicultural and diverse environment.

The 17 young people, amongst whom 10 are of the female gender, were officially send forth for the second phase of their training in Senegal recently. This was during a ceremony which took place at the Cement factory in Bonaberi, Douala. 

It was chaired by Dangote Cement Cameroon SA Managing Director, MD, Bertrand Mbouck. 

The Littoral Regional Coordinator of National Employment Fund and representatives from the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, lived the event. 

Cementing future of youths 

Speaking at the event, the Dangote Cement Cameroon MD, Bertrand Mbouck, noted that "investing in young people means cementing the future”.

He said the company thought of putting in place the skills acquisition program to ensure employees succession and contribute to employability of the youths together with the National Employment Fund.

Mbouck congratulated the trainees for completing the rigorous training programme that has equipped them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the company. 

He enjoined them to be ambassadors of the values they have learned wherever they go and not to give up in their dreams. 

“As you move forward in your career, remember that this is just a beginning. The road ahead may be challenging, but I have full confidence that each one of you will contribute significantly to the future success of the company. Continue to embrace your opportunity to learn, grow and make a positive impact on the Dangote Cement plants,” he said. 

Mbouck used the opportunity to call on the trainees to count themselves privileged to have been amongst the 2% selected for the programme.

The Dangote Cement Cameroon boss enjoined the trainees not to see the opportunity as an achievement or end of the road but “a starting point different from all what you have seen”.

“Talent is an advantage and disadvantage…but we want from you is more because more expected from the privilege ones that you are...so be sure you don't stagger at any level of the training process. You should adopt this through your life. You should know with clarification what you want to be in the next five years,” he stated.

He also advised them to stay off “distraction of social media”, meditate on who they are and “search within what you want to do with your life” in their next move.  

Turning to the parents of the trainees, the MD expressed pride to see them raise a generation of fine brains.

"The youths you have raised are the Africa we want to see tomorrow. They will be vectors of transformation in Africa and the African culture. They will be part of the industrial transformation in Africa. They will know the techniques be it at the level of industrial gender balance, sales, industrial production amongst others. They parents have done what is essential and will continue to do so," he said.

Enter NEF official 

On her part, the representative of the National Employment Fund in the Littoral Region, Justine Ndzana, emphasized that professional insertion of graduates into the job market preoccupies the government. She said it is on this note that NEF has drafted programs to remedy the issue. 

"That is how we propose the graduate citizen diploma training scheme to companies such as Dangote Cement," she said. 

The Dangote Cement Cameroon graduate trainee program, she added, falls within the scheme introduced by NEF.

Since introduction, she said 160 companies have engaged and 1,500 young people have benefited. 

Ndzana commended Dangote Cement Cameroon for contributing in their fight against unemployment. It should be noted that the trainees were selected amongst a pool of 1,000 online applicants. 

Zoom on details of training 

The Human Resource Manager of Dangote Cement Cameroon, Dr Tchagna Flaubert, revealed that some 120 youths were chosen through the online selection portal, 68 shortlisted for interview which streamlined the final selection to 17. 

Tchagna said they had been through an 18-month training at the factory and will then spend 12 months in Senegal to gain skills ranging from cement production to sales. 

He said the evaluation method used was different with focus on the trainees’ ability to be a team player. 

Unlike in school where individual efforts are acclaimed, collaboration amongst trainees was primordial. During the training period, they were put in a critical group for the values to be taught. 

Trainees express gratitude  

The trainees, through the voice of Djomna Careneo, sent words of appreciation to Dangote Cameroon and the National Employment Fund for policies in favour of youths which is now bearing fruits. 

Djomna thanked the founder of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for his dedication in promoting young African talents. 

She said they are committed to be ambassadors of Dangote Cement Cameroon in Senegal during the immersion period. 

In the same spirit of gratitude, Yombak Ngok Pierre, parent to one of the trainees, felt honoured to be amongst the parents of chosen kids in a company which has over the years worked to transform Africa. 

Yombak Ngok was glad that his child was able to obtained a place in a very rigorous competition.

“These children are the future of tomorrow…we have been their support and will continue to do that so that they emerge to be amongst those transforming the African continent," he said. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3221 of Friday September 6, 2024