Nestle Central West and African Region (CWAR) has said that it would prepare 300,000 young for work under its “Nestle Global Youth Initiative’’.
A statement by the company said on Tuesday in Lagos it would create more than 3,000 apprenticeships and traineeship opportunities in Africa by the end of 2018.
“We will provide readiness-for-work training for more than 300,000 young people over the same period,’’ said the statement by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Paul Bulcke.
“The training will include career advice, CV workshops and interview guidance and will take place at Nestle sites career fairs and in schools and colleges across the continent.’’ it said
It added that Nestle would also build and strengthen strategic partnerships with organisations supporting youth development.
The statement said that Buckle spoke at Nestle Creating Shared Value Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Tuesday.
The forum, for business civil society and government leaders from Africa, focused on “Investing in Sustainable Development in Africa’’.
It said that youth unemployment presented global social and economic challenges and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8, which Target 8.6 aims to substantially reduce the proportion of young people not in employment, education or in training by 2020.
“Africa is a continent of opportunity that is home to 1.2 billion people, 70 per cent of whom are 30 years old or younger.
“It is vital that these people have access to decent job opportunities. Nestle is working hard help achieve the SDGs,’’ he said.
The statement also said that in the CWAR more than 50 young people under the age of 30 have been recruited as full time employees in 2015.
It added that over 100 interns from across the region had been employed in CWAR Nestle programme in the same period.
In 2016, the Management Trainee Programme will be introduced in Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire by Nestle CWAR.
