Dangote Cement Celebrates Host Communities with Multi-Million Naira Empowerment Spree
By Patience Ikpeme
Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant, celebrated its 2023 Host Community Day in grand style, rolling out a vibrant tapestry of multi-million naira empowerment initiatives aimed at nurturing brighter futures for youths, women, farmers, and students across its 17 host communities.
The joyous event, graced by leading traditional rulers, women, and youth leaders, witnessed a cascade of impactful programs. To empower the next generation, 103 indigent and brilliant secondary and tertiary institution students received scholarships, lighting the path to academic success. Meanwhile, 30 youths acquired valuable skills in shoe and bag-making, equipping them with entrepreneurial avenues.
Recognizing the backbone of rural communities, Dangote Cement presented 60 Weeding Machines to farmers, easing their labor burden and boosting agricultural productivity. 50 women received deep freezers, strengthening their businesses and livelihoods, adding to the 50 similarly empowered with grinding machines last year.
Underscoring its commitment to community well-being, Dangote Cement had earlier resolved a prolonged power outage in some communities by supplying vital electrical materials.
Plant Director, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, attributed the company’s amplified social interventions to the current global challenges. He acknowledged the resilience of both communities and Dangote Cement in weathering tough times, emphasizing the unwavering support received from their host communities as a crucial factor.
“We are resolute in delivering on our socio-economic development promises, reciprocating the trust and commitment to improving the lives of our people,” Nawabuddin affirmed. “We have intensified our social investments, tailoring them to community needs, and we will not hesitate to bring happiness to our neighbors.”
Nawabuddin reiterated Dangote Cement’s unwavering commitment to community empowerment, highlighting 23 newly undertaken social investment projects and the revamping of ten non-functional schemes across the 17 host communities. These projects align with the company’s core focus areas of education, health, infrastructure, and empowerment.
The scholarship program, the plant’s flagship CSR initiative, has blossomed from supporting 28 students to encompassing 103 tertiary and 17 secondary school students per year. Nawabuddin revealed that the company proudly boasts 989 scholarships awarded to date, with demonstrably positive impacts across communities.
Acknowledging the critical role of youths, Nawabuddin expressed concern about the gap between available employment and youth aspirations. To bridge this gap, Dangote Cement has since 2019 partnered with various organizations to train and empower youths in marketable skills like catering, event management, acupressure, tailoring, and domestic electrification. This year, 30 youths from across host communities are receiving shoe and bag-making training through a partnership with the Industrial Training Fund.
Supporting the backbone of rural communities, Dangote Cement equipped 60 farmers with Weeding Machines, recognizing the challenges of sourcing labor and the vast arable land potential. In addition to training on tool usage and maintenance, the company even partnered with Equinox to train two beneficiaries on repairs, ensuring sustainability.
Empowering women was also central to the celebrations. Recognizing their pivotal role in families and society, Dangote Cement established the “Women Assembly” platform for regular engagement with host community women representatives. This year, based on identified needs, 50 women received deep freezers to jumpstart or expand businesses, empowering them to be entrepreneurial forces.
The Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Oluwaseyi Mulero, expressed profound gratitude for Dangote Cement’s positive impact, urging the company to continue its social interventions. He also encouraged community leaders and residents to reciprocate with peaceful coexistence to foster further growth and development.
Ogun State Commissioner for Trade and Investments, Adebola Sofela, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Olu Aikulola, commended Dangote Cement’s empowering initiatives, acknowledging them as a valuable support to the state government. He particularly praised the company’s effective conflict resolution mechanism and hailed Chairman Aliko Dangote as a progressive national leader.
Oba Kayode Kusoro, the Olu of Aga Olowo, lauded the Community Day as a space for fostering strong bonds between communities and Dangote Cement, celebrating their shared journey. He further highlighted the company’s role in transforming the Yewa North local government area into an industrial hub.
This vibrant tapestry of empowerment initiatives woven by Dangote Cement on Host Community Day signifies a unwavering commitment to shared prosperity and progress. By investing in the potential of youths, women, farmers, and students, the company lays the foundation for a brighter future for both its host communities and the nation as a whole.
