WAPCo Trains and Empowers 164 Youths with Vocational Skills in Ogun State

The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) recently celebrated the successful graduation of 164 youths who completed specialized vocational and technical training programs. The graduation ceremony, which took place in Ota, Ogun State, marked the achievements of participants trained in key trades such as electrical installations, aluminium fabrication, catering, and tailoring. To help them establish their own businesses, the graduates were also equipped with essential tools.

WAPCo emphasized that this initiative is part of its continuous commitment to uplifting and supporting the communities that host its pipeline infrastructure across Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, and Togo. Speaking at the event, Isaac Adjei Doku, WAPCo’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, reaffirmed the company’s pledge to sustain these empowerment programs for as long as the pipelines remain in operation.

Nigeria, which has a significant 56-kilometer stretch of the pipeline running through Ogun and Lagos States, benefits extensively from WAPCo’s community-focused initiatives. Doku highlighted the importance of maintaining peaceful and cooperative relationships with local communities, recognizing Nigeria’s role as the largest host of WAPCo’s pipeline network. He further linked these empowerment efforts to WAPCo’s dedication to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The vocational training program is designed to alleviate poverty by providing participants with practical skills and necessary resources to become self-sufficient entrepreneurs. WAPCo has allocated an annual budget of $750,000 for these initiatives, ensuring that each beneficiary receives support valued at $600. Doku noted that this long-standing commitment has been sustained for over a decade.

Strong partnerships with host communities have been instrumental in securing WAPCo’s pipeline infrastructure. The graduation ceremony was attended by traditional rulers, parents of the graduates, and Hon. Wasiu Lawal, chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government. Lawal expressed keen interest in collaborating with WAPCo, particularly as the council seeks to revamp its works department to enhance local development.