Factory of the Future: How Nestlé’s Agbara Academy Is Quietly Rewiring Nigeria’s Youth Employment Landscape

In a country where youth unemployment hovers around 33%, and where vocational education is often derided as a last resort, a quiet revolution is unfolding behind the gates of Nestlé Nigeria PLC’s Technical Training Centre (NTTC) in Agbara Industrial Estate. This October, the 8th cohort of trainees—20 young Nigerians—walked out of the facility not with vague certificates, but with globally recognized technical skills, some on their way to internships in Switzerland.

This is no CSR checkbox. It’s a systemic intervention—and a case study in corporate-backed skills development with tangible national implications.

“Each graduation ceremony is a true privilege because it allows us to witness firsthand the life-changing impact of the Nestlé Technical Training Center,” said Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director/CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC.

The programme, launched in 2011, was born out of necessity: a growing gap between Nigeria’s educational output and the country’s industrial skill demands. Since then, more than 180 young Nigerians have graduated from the centre, with over 90% reportedly securing employment within six months—many absorbed directly by Nestlé, and others employed in leading manufacturing firms in Nigeria and abroad.

The Swiss-Nigerian Axis: From Ogun to Geneva

Five of this year’s most outstanding graduates will travel to Switzerland this October for an eight-week internship, as part of an MoU signed in 2022 between Nestlé Nigeria and the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria. The goal: provide global exposure and reinforce technical competencies in a real-time international manufacturing environment.

This arrangement reflects Switzerland’s dual-track vocational model, often cited by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as one of the most effective skills development systems in the world (ILO, 2022).

“These achievements go far beyond individual success; they uplift families, strengthen communities, and contribute to Nigeria’s industrial growth,” said Elhusseini.

And they do. According to a 2023 NECA study, 68% of Nigerian employers report difficulty finding skilled entry-level technical staff. Yet, paradoxically, Nigeria produces over 500,000 graduates annually from universities and polytechnics (Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, 2022). The disconnect is skills—and Nestlé is tackling that.

₦6 Billion Investment, Zero Public Funding

Unlike many public-private partnerships that often get bogged down in red tape or suffer from lack of political will, Nestlé’s NTTC is entirely company-funded. With over ₦6 billion invested in infrastructure, tools, curriculum development, and faculty since inception, the centre reflects a long-term industrial vision.

“This programme reaffirms our belief that skills are the future of work, especially for young people in today’s competitive environment,” said Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), through a representative.

The programme’s curriculum is an 18-month hybrid of classroom instruction and hands-on machine training, modeled after international standards. Participants are trained in electrical/electronics engineering, mechanical operations, instrumentation, and automation—sectors critical to Nigeria’s flailing manufacturing sector, which has shrunk by over 2% YoY as of Q2 2025 (NBS, 2025).

Importantly, admission is merit-based and gender-inclusive. The 8th cohort had 30% female participation, up from just 10% in the 4th cohort.

Beyond the Factory Floor: A Lifeline for Nigerian Youth

Youth unemployment in Nigeria, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), remains one of the highest globally, with 3 in 10 young Nigerians either jobless or underemployed (IMF Country Report No. 24/52, Nigeria, March 2024).

Yet, initiatives like NTTC remain largely under-reported in national discourse—a missed opportunity for scaling.

“Most of our graduates start earning within months and contribute to household income,” said Mary Ogunbiyi, Technical Training Coordinator at Nestlé Agbara. “One of our alumni now leads a maintenance unit in Angola. These are real-life transformations.”

Indeed, Nestlé’s efforts in Nigeria are part of a broader global initiative called “Nestlé Needs YOUth”, launched in 2013 with a commitment to reach 10 million young people globally with access to economic opportunities by 2030.

As of 2022, the initiative had already impacted 4 million youth worldwide (Nestlé Global Impact Report, 2022).

A Model Worth Replicating?

While critics might argue that such corporate efforts cannot replace national education reforms, experts see NTTC as a replicable model. Public vocational schools suffer from underfunding, outdated curricula, and poor industry linkage.

“The government should collaborate with private-sector actors like Nestlé to scale these models across geopolitical zones,” says Dr. Oladipo Owolabi, Industrial Skills Policy Analyst at the Centre for Development Strategy, Lagos. “Otherwise, we’ll continue producing graduates for jobs that no longer exist.”

Conclusion: The Untold Potential of Skills-First Economies

Nestlé’s Agbara Centre is not just a training academy; it’s a microcosm of what Nigeria’s industrial future could look like if skills development were prioritized and depoliticized.

As Nigeria confronts the dual crises of youth unemployment and industrial stagnation, the question is not whether such initiatives are impactful—but why they remain the exception, not the norm.

“To the graduands, I extend heartfelt congratulations,” said Oyerinde. “Strive for excellence, uphold values of consistency, and make a positive impact in your chosen fields.”

If Nigeria listens, the real graduation might just be national.

References

• Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (2022, 2025). Labour Force Survey.
• Nestlé Global Impact Report (2022). https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/2022-03/global-impact-report-2022.pdf
• International Labour Organization (2022). Skills and the Future of Work: Vocational Training Models.
• International Monetary Fund (2024). Nigeria Country Report No. 24/52.
• Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) (2023). Skills Demand Report.