Dangote Cement Boosts Women Entrepreneurs in Benue with N100,000 Grants
By Patience Ikpeme
Dangote Cement Plc is injecting significant capital into businesses owned by women in its host communities in Benue State through a new cash grant programme.
This initiative is designed to stimulate business activities and foster women’s entrepreneurship across Nigeria.
This women empowerment programme comes just months after the Dangote Cement plant in Gboko substantially increased its bursary payments to students from its host communities, by more than 100 percent.
Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday in Gboko, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, explained the scheme’s purpose: “Through this scheme, selected women entrepreneurs in host communities will receive N100,000 grants each to strengthen and expand their businesses.”
He added that the financial support aims to boost local enterprise development at the grassroots level, providing female business owners with capital to scale their operations. Each beneficiary, he said, will use the funds to address specific business needs, from purchasing inventory to upgrading equipment, thereby creating tangible economic impact in their communities.
Mr. Olayiwola further explained the broader impact of empowering women in business. “When women succeed in business, they invest in their families’ education, health, and well-being, breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a ripple effect of positive change in their communities.”
He also stated that the programme will “enable the women to generate more income to sustain their families, reduce women’s over-reliance on their husbands.” He clarified that the money provided is a grant and does not need to be repaid to Dangote Cement.
The selection of beneficiaries was a collaborative effort involving traditional leaders from the Quarry, Tse-Kucha, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers host communities, as well as the Dangote Community Consultative Committee (DCCC).
This latest initiative follows a wave of jubilation that swept through Gboko communities last year when Dangote Cement Plc and six host communities signed a landmark Community Development Agreement (CDA), signaling a renewed commitment to local development.
Mr. Olayiwola also mentioned that the company will monitor the progress of the women entrepreneurs and evaluate how the funds are being invested.
The Acting Plant Director, Engr. Munusamy Murugan, represented by Engr. Tavershima Soom, announced that this empowerment programme will be an annual event. Engr. Murugan added that other economic empowerment initiatives planned include a farmers’ program and a youth skill acquisition programme, among several others.
Johnson Kor, Head of Social Performance at the Gboko Plant, addressed community representatives, stating that the company is undertaking various initiatives to support community members. He urged them to act as good ambassadors for Dangote Cement Plc.
In their reactions, beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support. Ruth Ikyowe Tser, 37, said she plans to invest the money into her cassava farming business. Similarly, Mrs. Vishigh Comfort Msurshiona, 39, indicated that she would use the grant to grow her commodities trade.
