The West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has empowered more than 500 entrepreneurs from its host communities of Onne and Ogu through its flagship capacity-building initiative, WACTpreneur. The recently concluded programme, which primarily supported women, aims to equip participants with vital business and entrepreneurship skills to foster sustainable economic development.
WACTpreneur is a community-focused training and mentorship scheme under WACT's CSR pillar of Training and Development. The initiative provides entrepreneurs with practical tools to start, grow, and manage small businesses, helping to boost local economic resilience.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, WACT Managing Director, Jeethu Jose, described the programme as an investment in the future of the host communities. He reaffirmed WACT's commitment to deepening community ties and sustaining impactful partnerships.
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Chinelo Obienyem, WACT's Senior People Business Partner, highlighted that the six-month programme covered key areas such as merchandising, customer service, record-keeping, financial management, and supply chain logistics. She urged the graduates to apply their new knowledge to grow their businesses and uplift their communities.
Community leaders also praised the initiative. Christiana Tamunobereton-Ari, Vice Chairperson of Ogu/Bolo, emphasized the value of skills acquisition, stating that the programme has equipped participants for long-term self-reliance. Chief Sunday Dudu, Chairman of the Onne Community Development Committee, commended WACT for its ongoing development efforts in the area.
WACT's Community Relations Manager, Justin Okwuofu, explained that the programme emerged from a needs assessment conducted with local stakeholders. Since its launch in 2023, three batches have completed the training, with the latest batch graduating 500 entrepreneurs. Due to its success and rising demand, a new phase is set to begin soon.
Beyond WACTpreneur, WACT continues to support its host communities through various CSR initiatives, including healthcare improvements, solar power installations, scholarships, and the training of over 1,500 women in the production of sanitary pads and small business development.
