…as 2nd batch of 81 Nigerian graduates sponsored by CCECC in Chinese varsity return home

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Goodswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Friday, called on companies operating in Nigeria to respect the nation’s law on corporate social responsibility.

They challenged all companies operating in the country to emulate the impactful corporate social responsibility of a Chinese construction company, CCECC.

This came following the successful training and graduation of over 190 students of Nigerian origin in various railway and other engineering fields in Chinese universities, sponsored by CCECC Nigeria Ltd.

 Speaking variously on Friday, at the welcoming ceremony for the Nigerian graduates in Abuja, the leaders hailed the Chinese construction company for its impactful corporate social responsibility in the country, insisting that other companies must follow in that direction.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking through his representative and Deputy Chief of Staff, Sen. Ibrahim Hasan, thanked the CCECC for providing impactful social corporate responsibility ,in terms of infrastructure, schools, among others in the country.

Shettima, who hailed the company for training over 198 students of Nigerian origin in the field of engineering to help provide solutions to the infrastructural problems that Nigeria has, challenged others to emulate the company.

Describing infrastructure as a critical component of development in the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, Vice President Shetima thanked CCECC for  training the nation’s citizens in the field of engineering to come home and  contribute to its growth and development.

“This is actually in line with the policies and programmes of the Tinubu’s administration,”he informed.

Senate President, Goodswill Akpabio, who was also represented by Senator Amos Yonanna, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, thanked the Chinese construction company for the gesture even as he noted  that it was in the nation’s law for companies to exercise their corporate social responsibilities by ameliorating the lives of citizens and communities they operate their businesses.

“These are extraordinary graduates who have returned to help us build the walls of our country. We have come to unveil the hidden treasures of these remarkable individuals who have traversed the nooks and crannies of learning in China.

“They have returned to us now ,not as mere travellers but professionals, armed with knowledge, skills, and desires to shape the destiny of our nation.

“Let us pay tribute to CCECC for sponsoring over 190 of our young citizens to study in a  Chinese university . We celebrate their good heartedness and responsible corporate social responsibility. We appreciate them for lighting a candle, not only to show these children the way but to also let the corporate world have a field through corporate responsibility and follow their example,” he said.

The Senate President “urged corporations in Nigeria to fertilize the economic grounds which if they plant, they will reap.”

 “Corporations should  invest in our young people and broaden the workforce in their business environment.

“Let this challenge other companies to rise from their comfort zones and take the bull by the horns in undertaking their corporate social responsibilities,” he added.

He, however, urged the graduates ” to justify the confidence reposed in them by giving their all wherever they are.”

“The National Assembly is deeply concerned about unemployment in the country and is working tiredness with the executive arm of government to ameliorate  this situation. Meanwhile, those who have the wherewithal to do, so should do so,” he added.

On his part, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the House Chairman on Foreign Affairs, Hon Oluwole Oke, while speaking, congratulated the students for having the rare previlege of enjoying the scholarship of CCECC.

He prayed that they become success stories for Nigeria just as he said they would be proud citizens of this country that “we will cherish and clap for at all times.”

According to him, the scheme under which citizens benefited from is a provision of the law anchored under Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR

“It is the requirement of the law that every company  and government agency should put in place the provision of corporate social responsibility,” he emphasized.

He bemoaned the lackadaisical attitudes of some companies in undertaking their corporate social responsibilities, asking them to sit up by emulating the Chinese construction company, CCECC.

“We have never seen any company that has done what CCECC has done to us. We have a lot to learn from China. Please, show us the way, especially in the power and transportation sectors,” he begged.

The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, in his keynote address at the event, explained that,” This project was executed by CCECC as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to Nigeria.”

“In order to ensure indigenous participation in the development and operation of railway industry, the Federal Government developed the National Local Content Policy for Railway development. More specifically, in 2018, the Federal Government further introduced the Advocacy for Enhanced Local Content in Nigeria’s infrastructural development based on Nigeria  Chinese Bi-lateral Agreements and thereafter directed the Federal Ministry of Transportation to ensure technical participation of competent and qualified local engineers, technicians and craftsmen in all facets of Nigerian  Chinese railway infrastructure development project; and facilitate knowledge sharing with Nigerians through shadowing or apprenticeship programs,” he explained.

According to the minister, “The Federal Ministry of Transportation took various steps to ensure effective implementation of the policy through engagement of the Nigerian Engineers, technicians, and craftsmen on the on-the-job training program being organized by the ministry and engineering consultants to all railway projects of the ministry, Messrs TEAM Nig. Ltd and Jamub Global Services Ltd/Khairi Consult SDN BHD.”

He spoke further: “It may impress you to note that todays occasion depicts one of the success stories of the FMT in pursuance of domestication and indigenization of railway technology in Nigeria. This is borne out of the realization of the enormous roles played by the rail transport subsector in Nigeria from 1960s to 1980s when it had a unilateral capacity to convey mass agricultural products, livestock and solid mineral resources to Lagos and Port Harcourt seaports for export. It is in the light of forgoing that the FGN placed the revival of the railways in the country as one of its priority projects which attracted numerous completed and ongoing railway modernization projects across the country.

“It is significant to state that the laudable railway projects across the country can only be sustained by trained and skilled manpower which the Nigerian government is proud to utilize as outcome of your successful studies.

“The transportation sector as enabler of economic growth and gateway to the nations economy is undergoing a reform that will accommodate your contributions as experts in different fields of transport management, logistics and administration.

“The recent kind gesture of the CCECC of building the Federal University of Transportation Daura as Corporate Social Responsibility will provide another advantage of furthering your studies for those who desire to take up carrier in academics.

“Similarly, the recent constitutional development which moved the provision of railway services from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list opens another window that require your services at the Federal, State and private sector outlets as consultants, managers, administrators and tutors.”

The Chairman CCECC Nigeria Limited, Mr Jason Zhang, in his keynote address at the occasion, described the occasion as momentous, given that the company and the country witnessed the fruits of their hard work, determination, and the generous support extended to them.

“First and foremost, on behalf of CCECC, let me express my deepest congratulations to them. They have embarked on a remarkable journey of quest for knowledge, growth, and cultural exchange. Their commitment to education and the pursuit of excellence has been duly rewarded today.

“In 1981, CCECC made its first presence in Nigeria. After 43 years’ development, the company has turned into one of the largest infrastructure companies in the country. Its business covers the construction of railways, highways, bridges, and airports and it is committed to striding with Nigeria and has been investing in the development of free trade zone and real estates. 

“As a construction company valuing Diligence, Integrity and Perseverance, CCECC is fully devoted to delivering quality projects in Nigeria and has been working closely with the various Ministries and States in the construction of hundreds of projects, such as Railway of Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan, Kaduna-Kano, Abuja and Lagos Light Rails, New International Airport Terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, Kano-Katsina Road, Damaturu-Maiduguri Road, Aba- Port Harcourt Road, and so on,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Zhang said CCECC was also actively playing an important role in fulfilling its corporate social responsibility by donating at least 10 school buildings to the local communities and establishing the Federal University of Transportation in Daura, Katsina State, to assist the technical knowhow transfer and capability building in the country.

 “As another vivid example of CCECC’s social responsibility, this education cooperation program between CCECC, the government of Nigeria, and the best engineering universities in China like Chang’an University was initiated in the year of 2018, and as for the moment, around 120 students have been benefited from this program. Meanwhile, another 70 students have been sponsored by CCECC and graduated from Central China University till last year, totaling 190 students.

“For CCECC, by sponsoring these young minds to study engineering majors, which are urgently needed in the country, the company is showing the true spirit of giving back to the society and is achieving its goal of carrying out the full industrial chain cooperation with technical knowhow transfer needed in the country,” he added.

According to him,” education is the foundation upon which great nations are built, and the efforts of CCECC to fostering the intellectual development of Nigerian students will definitely turn out to be a rewarding experience for both the company and the country. “

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Managing Director of CCECC Nigeria Limited, Mr David Wang, explained that,” Since 2018, CCECC has collaborated with the Federal Government of Nigeria and Chang’an University to select and sponsor young Nigerians for further education in China.”

“Under this program, the students sponsored by CCECC underwent a 1-year language study in China before officially enrolling in their 4-year undergraduate program in Chang’an University. Known as “1+4 program”, this initiate has benefited 40 students who have already returned to Nigeria after graduation last year, and the remaining 72 students have also successfully completed their academic journey in China this year,” he said.

According to him,” as a company committed to strong corporate social responsibility, CCECC has consistently upheld its pledge to “stride with Nigeria” by sponsoring capability building and transferring technical know-how to young people.”

“Today, as we witness this joyous moment, we celebrate not only the achievements of these young students but also the spirit of international cooperation and collaboration between the government of Nigeria, CCECC and Chang’an University. It is through the combined effort of these parties that lives of these young people have been transformed.

“For these young minds, their success has not come easily, as their pursuit for knowledge has been marked by academic pressure, cultural shock and the impact of COVID-19.

” However, I am honored to see that all of them have not only excelled academically but also have learned the values of resilience, adaptability, and global perspectives,” he added.

Leader of the graduating students, Mohammed Mustapha, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the federal government and CCECC for giving them the opportunity.

He pledged that they would use the opportunity to uplift the nation’s construction sector, especially in the rail and transportation sectors.

“The year 2019 was an extremely fortunate year for us. It is not only an honour to us personally but also a great honour to our families and our country,”he said, referring to the year they had the scholarship opportunity.