Communities Laud Dangote Cement Director Over Local Development
By Patience Ikpeme
The Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, Engr. Azad Nawabuddin, has received significant praise from host communities for his dedication to community development and the timely implementation of key social interventions.
Leaders and stakeholders from the plant’s catchment areas noted that Nawabuddin’s leadership has facilitated a robust rollout of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) and several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These efforts are credited with enhancing social infrastructure and fostering a spirit of sustainable cooperation between the cement giant and its neighbors.
The Bajana of Obajana, Engr. Idowu Isenibi, expressed deep appreciation for the support provided by the Plant Director, alongside the company’s Vice President, Devakumar V. G. Edwin, and Group President Aliko Dangote.
He stated that the company’s social efforts are being expertly managed through a structured CSR program under the Social Performance Department. “These programs are meeting community needs and fostering sustainable growth and development,” the monarch said.
Echoing these sentiments, the Youth Leader of the Oyo Community, Abraham Paul, lauded the Plant Director for what he termed “uncommon support.” He pointed specifically to the company’s swift intervention in rehabilitating vandalized 33kva power lines that had left the community in darkness.
While acknowledging that operational challenges occasionally arise, Paul voiced confidence in the power of continued dialogue. “Through sustained collaboration, such issues will be effectively addressed for the overall benefit of the plant and the host communities,” he added.
Supporting this view, the Baalo of Oyo Community, Solomon Obahawu—speaking through his aide, Mr. David Afolabi—confirmed that the company’s contributions have drastically improved the social well-being of his people. Afolabi, who also serves as the Financial Secretary of the Oyo Community and Acting Director of the Parents–Teachers Association (PTA), cited yearly scholarships, women’s enterprise promotion, and farmer support as transformative pillars of the partnership.
The monarch further detailed specific projects completed in 2025 that have had an immediate impact on the area. These include the employment of 20 local security personnel, the installation of 50 solar-powered streetlights, the construction of drainage systems, and the conversion of three motorized boreholes to solar power to bypass electricity failures.
Engr. Azad Nawabuddin responded by detailing the breadth of the company’s recent social investments. He mentioned that the company has implemented Farmer Assistance Grants for Oyo and Iwaa, vocational skill training, market women assistance, and funding for local cooperatives. Additionally, the plant has constructed security houses to bolster community policing efforts.
The General Manager of Social Performance, Prince Ademola Adeyemi, concluded by revealing that plans are already underway to officially handover several completed projects in the Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana, and Apata communities.
He also noted that as part of its role as a responsible corporate citizen, the company has started executing the CDA signed with the Jakura community, beginning with a contract for its electrification.
