By Sebastine Obasi

170 Nigerian youths have become of the beneficiaries of this year’s West African Gas Pipeline Company, WAPCO, annual $750,000 skills acquisition programme meant for 56 host communities of the company.

The WAPCO initiative, known as the Community Youth Employment Scheme (CYES), was established to empower host communities with vocational training and entrepreneurship support. It cuts across Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Togo.

Speaking at this year’s graduation at Otta, Ogun State, General Manager for Corporate Affairs at WAPCO, Isaac Adjei Doku, stated that the company is committed to community development beyond infrastructure projects such as schools and hospitals.

He explained that the company has evolved its approach to directly empower community members with livelihood programs, including scholarships and vocational training.

He said, “We are identifying brilliant but needy individuals in our host communities and equipping them with skills through the CYES. This initiative is not just about training but also ensuring that beneficiaries have the tools to start their own businesses.

“Every year, we allocate no less than 750,000 dollars across the four countries we operate in and we’ve been doing this for over a decade. “In Nigeria alone, WAPCo supports around 170 individuals annually through vocational training and scholarships across Ogun and Lagos states. “Typically, each candidate receives support valued at no less than 600 dollars,” he added.

Adjei-Doku also highlighted Nigeria as the company’s largest community, with 56 communities located along the pipeline. “We feel it’s our responsibility to give back to the communities that allow us to operate here. “The company’s efforts align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as they prioritise social investment and community empowerment. “Upon completing their training, beneficiaries receive tools to start their own businesses, helping to lift themselves and others out of poverty.

“WAPCo ensures follow-up support for those who have benefited from their programmes, fostering long-term success,” he added. He said that over the years, WAPCo had built strong, incident-free relationships with the communities along their pipeline, spanning more than 20 years. During the ceremony in Ota, the General Manager of Corporate Affairs also noted the significant funding allocated to scholarships and CYES, aimed at supporting students and young entrepreneurs in their journey toward higher education and self-sufficiency.

One of the beneficiaries, Adeyemi Oluwagbenga, expressed their appreciation for WAPCo’s vocational training initiatives, which, along with the provision of tools, offer a pathway to economic independence and serve as a model for others in their communities. The ceremony featured the distribution of various tools, including ovens, refrigerators, freezers, building materials, sewing machines and catering equipment, empowering the graduates to begin their entrepreneurial journeys