The Dangote Refinery, poised to become one of the world’s largest petroleum producers, is primarily operated by a new generation of Nigerian engineers.

Remarkably, these engineers have an average age of 26, placing them squarely within the Gen Z demographic.

With a capacity to produce 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery is set to become one of the largest suppliers of petroleum products globally. As you step into the complex, the scale of operations is immediately evident.



The refinery’s expansive network of pipes, distillation columns, and control rooms hum with activity, reflecting the intricate processes at play.

Built at an estimated cost of $19 billion, it is the largest refinery in Africa and Europe. However, beyond its industrial scale, the true marvel lies in its workforce.

Gen Z Engineers
Young professionals, many with advanced degrees, are the backbone of this expansive facility. These engineers, predominantly aged between 26 and 28 and mostly educated in Nigeria, are integral to the refinery’s operations. Clad in white lab coats and overalls, and exuding youthful enthusiasm, they manage complex machinery and processes with remarkable expertise.

Aliko Dangote, the chairman of the Dangote Group, emphasized the importance of harnessing local talent. “We believe in the young ones. We have a system where we train them and enrol them in different programs locally and abroad. They are highly skilled and motivated. Some of them have PhDs; you’d be surprised,” Dangote stated in a media parley at the refinery premises in Lekki.

The average age of the employees is around 28 years old, with two to four years of experience in the refining business.


The choice to go for young employees was not a difficult one for Dangote. Decades of importation of petroleum products are evidence of refineries that do not function. Before the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria had four major refineries built during the military era.

The last time they functioned fully was almost two decades ago, suggesting most of their workforce is aging and out of touch with modern refining skills.



Aliko Dangote also acknowledges the challenges faced by managing young people, especially amid the “Japa’ wave, where many seek a better life outside Nigeria, looking for opportunities in countries like Canada where young and skilled workers are highly sought after.

To mitigate this risk, the staff are well trained and paid competitive living wages to ensure that they remain happy. “We pay our employees well and increase salaries very often. However, we know we can still lose some of them to foreign countries or international oil companies, no matter what we pay. However, we have created a pipeline that ensures we hire the brightest minds from Nigerian universities,” Aliko Dangote stated.

Among the current crop of Gen-Z employees are mechanical engineers, civil engineers, oil and gas specialists, and chemical engineers, all contributing to the refinery’s operations.

The engineers took time to explain their roles and simplify the complex methods they employ as part of their operations in the firm.

One mechanical engineer shared, “My role involves ensuring that all the machinery operates smoothly, from the distillation columns to the pipelines.”

A chemical engineer who recently finished his master’s at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria added, “We focus on refining processes, making sure that crude oil is converted efficiently into various products, as we prepare for the production of PMS in the coming weeks.”

An oil and gas specialist from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) also working at the refinery explained, “Our job is to manage the flow of crude oil into the refinery and oversee the distribution of the refined products.”

Dangote Refinery employs over 3,000 employees, with the fertilizer plant alone employing close to 1,500 directly and another 5,000 indirectly.

The refinery is expected to begin selling petrol to local marketers next month.


https://nairametrics.com/2024/07/15/dangote-refinery-employees-dominated-by-gen-z-nigerian-engineers/

Nice one but this government won't favour that refinery. A northern government will favour Dangote's refinery. He has to exercise patience.

No problem with that

That's amazing! Dangote is investing in the future generation of Nigerian engineers.

Excellent report.

That refinery effectively positions Nigeria today as an INDUSTRIALISED country.

That refinery is ready to supply refined petroleum products, from diesel to aviation fuel, and petrochemicals of all types to the entire African continent today.

It’s a huge development.

And to see the operations being manned by young Nigerian engineers and scientists is just a pleasure to behold.

God bless Dangote for believing in Nigeria and her people.

Excellent stuff.

Whichever generation they belong to doesn't really matter.. so far they are well equipped with requisite knowledge and can make the refinery work, babu matsala.

OK

How much do they pay Graduate Engineers?

Would those productive Gen Z have time to join any protest?

If you are born poor, it's not your fault but if you died poorly, then you should be ready to held yourself responsible

Wow! Na great news be dis, e show say we dey empower our youths and dey build better future for our country. Kudos to Dangote!

Something in me doesn't trust dis Nigerian GenZ. They might start shooting tiktok dance close to fuel tank

vengertime:
Something in me doesn't trust dis Nigerian GenZ. They might start shooting tiktok dance close to fuel tank

The refinery will soon turn to content site for them.. The female won’t disappoint by shaking bum bum there as time goes on.. The guys will be dancing Amapiano

atiku4President:
No problem with that

Hail him abeg

If na negative news about the refinery, u go don dey foam for mouth already

Not like he was under obligation to do this.

Better GenZ with a working refinery than GenA with series of dead refineries.