The West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)–APM Terminals Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in its community development efforts with the graduation of over 500 beneficiaries from its capacity-building initiative, WACTpreneur. The event, held recently, honoured participants from Onne and Ogu host communities in Rivers State, with a majority of the graduates being women.
WACTpreneur is a six-month entrepreneurship training and mentorship programme designed to equip community members with vital business management skills. It is one of the core initiatives under WACT’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillar of Training and Development, aimed at supporting economic inclusion and long-term empowerment within host communities.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Managing Director of WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria, Jeethu Jose, described the initiative as more than just training. “WACTpreneur is an investment in the future of our host communities. My dream is for WACT to be in every heart, touching every family. I assure you, on behalf of WACT and APM Terminals, this good work and our collaboration with the community will continue,” he said.
The programme covered practical business topics such as merchandising, customer relations, supply chain management, credit sales, financial literacy, cash flow management, and maintaining integrity in business. It was tailored to address the real challenges faced by small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in the local context.
Senior People Business Partner at WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria, Chinelo Obienyem, praised the determination of the participants and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to meaningful capacity building. “Through this programme, the beneficiaries now possess tools and knowledge to build and sustain their businesses in a competitive environment,” he said.
Vice Chairperson of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Barr. Christiana Tamunobereton-Ari, commended WACT’s impact on livelihoods and urged beneficiaries to put the skills to use. “They did not just give us fish—they taught us how to catch fish. Now it’s up to us to apply what we’ve learned. We are assuring WACT that we will reproduce the value you’ve invested in us,” she said.
Chairman of the Community Development Committee in Onne, Chief Sunday Dudu, described WACT as a key driver of development in the area. “WACT has become synonymous with growth and opportunity in Onne. Several meaningful projects are already underway, and this programme is one of the many ways the company continues to give back,” he said.
Providing insight into the programme’s origin, WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria Community Relations Manager, Justin Okwuofu, said the WACTpreneur initiative emerged from a needs assessment conducted jointly with community members. “We discovered a pressing need to improve business management capacity, particularly for women and youth. This programme is our response—built from the ground up with the community’s input and focused on real outcomes,” he said.
With over 500 beneficiaries trained so far, WACT says future editions of the WACTpreneur initiative will continue to deepen its impact, empowering more community members to build sustainable businesses and contribute meaningfully to local economic growth.
