Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man and founder of one of the most diversified business conglomerates in Africa, might soon be owning a private university.

This much was hinted by the Director of the Dangote Academy, Mr. Paramjit Pabby, at the inauguration of the 22 new trainees into the Dangote Academy at Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State.

“We are creating talent pipelines for Dangote companies and for others in Nigeria,” he said.

The inaugurated engineers are young graduates of Electrical, Mechanical and chemical engineering from various  Nigerian universities and polytechnics.

They will be absorbed into the Dangote group after 12 months training during which they will learn relevant skills.

At the moment, the Dangote Academy runs Graduate Engineer Trainees Scheme (GET), Junior Technicians Scheme (JTS), Management Skills and Leadership training among others and it will soon metamorphose into a full-fledged university says Pabby.

Bridging the skills gap

Pabby noted that soon-to-become-a-university Academy exists to fill up the skill gap as Nigeria prepares for industrial growth.

The Assistant General Manager (AGM) Training of the Dangote Cement Plc Engr Haruna Adinoyi told newsmen that the phase I and II of the Dangote Academy campus will on completion accommodate about 550 trainees in a single batch.

A Leadership report, quoting expert sources, says the Dangote University will be in line with the Nigeria's Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) when it is established.

From Academy To University... Billionaire Dangote To Own University Soon