Presco Plc and SIAT Academy Celebrate First Set of Graduate Trainees

Presco Plc, Nigeria's top agro-industrial company and part of SIAT Group, has celebrated the graduation of 33 young professionals from the first SIAT Academy Graduate Trainee Programme. The graduation ceremony took place in Benin City, where the company also announced a new group of 70 trainees, a 40% increase in intake. This shows their commitment to nurturing future leaders in agribusiness.

SIAT Academy started in 2025 as a training platform to boost technical, professional, and leadership skills in SIAT Group and the palm oil industry. The one-year Graduate Trainee Programme combines classroom lessons, hands-on experience, and mentorship. Trainees will have opportunities across the Group's operations in Edo, Delta, Rivers States, and Ghana.

The first group had 50 graduates in July and September 2025. After a year of training, practical assignments, and evaluations, 33 participants finished the programme successfully. They will now move on to the Management Trainee Programme, taking on more responsibilities as they prepare for future management roles.

At the ceremony, Adewale Arikawe, Group Chief Executive Officer, spoke about the need to invest in people as the Group grows. He said, "Our growth ambitions require us to invest as deliberately in people as we do in plantations, factories, technology, and markets. The graduation of our first cohort is an important milestone in building the talent pipeline needed to support our future. These young professionals have completed the first stage of their development, and we are committed to supporting their continued growth. Our ambition is not simply to build a bigger SIAT, but to develop the people who will build and lead it. The expansion of our second cohort to 70 trainees demonstrates that commitment."

Reinout Impens, Director of SIAT Academy, pointed out the programme’s focus on practical experience and performance-based growth. He said, "We began with 50 young graduates, exposing them to real operations, workplace responsibilities, and clear performance expectations. Today, 33 have demonstrated their readiness to progress to the next stage. Their graduation marks an important step towards greater professional and management responsibility. With 70 new trainees joining our second cohort, we are building on this foundation to develop the capabilities needed to support the Group’s strategic ambitions."

Michael Omi, a graduate from the first cohort, talked about how the programme improved his understanding of industrial operations and plant maintenance. He said, "Before joining SIAT, I knew very little about the agro-industrial sector. The programme has given me valuable technical experience and a deeper understanding of how the industry operates. Progressing to the Management Trainee Programme is an exciting opportunity to build on that experience and pursue my ambition of combining engineering expertise with business management."

The ceremony brought together leaders, Academy representatives, and trainees to celebrate the graduates' successes and acknowledge outstanding performance and project delivery.

The SIAT Academy programme also supports Nigeria's National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022, 2027 and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially quality education, decent work, and sustainable industrial development.

Through the Academy, Presco and SIAT Group continue to invest in the skills and leadership needed for long-term growth and to strengthen Africa's agro-industrial workforce.