Twenty-five young engineering graduates of various universities and polytechnics across the country have recently been inducted into the Graduate Trainee Programme of Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited (PCHS) – a subsidiary of SIFAX Group.
Speaking at the induction ceremony held in Lagos, PCHS Managing Director, John Jenkins, said 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, reach stackers and shore cranes, among others,” he said.
Jenkins 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, PHCS Human Resources Manager, Christopher Nnamuah, 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.
He said the best of the trainees would be employed by the company upon the completion of the programme.
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