Mr Alf Karlsen, the Managing Director of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria ( CCNN) Sokoto, says the company has spent more than N36 million on the training of 100 youths in various skills.

He said this in Sokoto on Thursday when the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Malam Dahiru Maishanu, visited the company.

Karlsen said the training was conducted under the company’s skills acquisition scheme, pointing out that the youth were being trained in various skills, including ICT, carpentry, vulcanising and electrical/electronic works.

“We train them for a period of one year while each of the youths is being paid N6,000 monthly as upkeep and transport allowances.

“We also donate assorted working materials and take-off grants to the youth to enable them start up their own businesses.’’

The Managing Director also said that the company was spending about N30 million annually on the execution of some “corporate social responsibility projects.”

Speaking, the Commissioner said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relationship between the state government and the firm.

Maishanu described the company as “a very reliable partner of the state government.” (NAN)