Ports & Cargo Handling Services Ltd. (PCHS), a subsidiary of SIFAX Group has inducted 25 young engineers into its newly-established Graduate Trainee Programme.
Managing Director, PCHS, Mr John Jenkins, in a statement on Monday explained that the programme was in line with SIFAX Group industry leadership objectives and in fulfilment of its promises to the Council of Registered Engineers (COREN) at its 2022 Annual Conference to kick-off one of its industry capacity development initiatives.
He pointed out that the 25 engineering graduate were from various universities and polytechnics across the country.
Jenkins said that the one-year programme would afford the participants the opportunity of practical technical training and mentorship.
He said that the programme was launched to address the shortage of competent technical manpower in the country’s maritime industry as well as provide job opportunities for young and competent Nigerian engineering graduates.
“We designed this engineering graduate trainee scheme for two major reasons. First is to open Nigerian young engineering graduates to the immense opportunities that abound in the Nigerian maritime industry.
“We want them to know they can build a long career in maritime.
“The other reason is that the sector currently needs a new set of young and competent technical hands who can contribute meaningfully to its growth through the deployment of their skills.
“This one-year training will take them through the nitty gritty of the repairs and maintenance of key heavy-duty equipment like Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG), reach stackers and shore cranes, amongst others,” he said.
He urged the participants to take full advantage of the great opportunity extended to them by the company through their commitment and willingness to learn.
In his remarks, Mr Christopher Nnamuah, Human Resources Manager, PCHS, said the scheme would also serve as a succession plan programme to groom the next set of engineers both for the company and the industry at large.
“As a company that is tracking trends in our industry, we have discovered that opportunities abound in the maritime sector but we have low manpower to harness these opportunities.
“With the support of the management, we have now begun this training with 25 engineering graduates.
“There is a need to start planning for the future and we know that this set of young trainees will take over from the experienced ones in the nearest future,” he said.
Nnamuah said the company planned to absorb into its workforce the best of the trainees upon the completion of the programme.
