Dangote Cement Empowers 40 Host Community Members with Fish Farming Skills
By Patience Ikpeme
In a major move to bolster local food security and economic independence, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, has graduated 40 participants from its host communities following an intensive training programme in fish farming and entrepreneurship.
The graduation ceremony, held at the plant premises, brought together a high-powered gathering of Federal and State government officials, traditional rulers, and representatives from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). The beneficiaries, primarily women, were selected from the Iwaa, Oyo, Obajana, and Apata communities to participate in the scheme, which adds to the company’s growing portfolio of vocational interventions including solar energy, poultry, and fashion design.
The Plant Director, Azad Nawabuddin, framed the initiative as a deliberate tool for job creation. He noted that the programme aims to transform individual skills into collective communal assets that drive the local economy.
“In learning the art and business of fish farming, you have embraced a cycle of life that teaches responsibility,” Engr. Nawabuddin told the graduates. “You nurture, you wait, you adapt, and in time, you harvest. This mirrors the journey of community development itself: it is not built in a day, but through consistent effort, shared knowledge, and collective commitment.”
Speaking further on the socio-economic impact, he explained that fish farming creates a value chain that supports feed suppliers, transporters, and market traders. “When a community feeds itself, it strengthens not only its economy but its sense of identity and pride,” he added.
Prince Ademola Adeyemi, the General Manager and Head of Social Performance at the plant, explained that the selection of fish farming was the result of a mutual agreement between the company and its neighbors.
“We don’t Lord ourself on the communities. We jointly agree to carry out this CSR programme,” Prince Adeyemi said. “Through partnerships like the one we have with the Industrial Training Fund, we ensure that our interventions are not just well-intentioned, but impactful and sustainable.”
He noted that the specific focus on self-sufficiency is designed to reduce the traditional reliance on “white-collar” or direct company employment. “At Dangote Cement Plc, we remain steadfast in our commitment to being not just a business, but a responsible partner in progress,” he said.
The initiative earned high marks from regulatory and administrative bodies. Engr. Olaitan Olufemi, the Mines Environmental Compliance Officer from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, stated that the company has performed excellently in its social responsibilities.
Representing the Kogi State Governor’s Technical Adviser on CSR, Hon. Akinola Oluropo Babatunde expressed pride in the leadership of the Dangote Group and its managers at Obajana. He urged the beneficiaries to use the tools provided to change the trajectory of their households. Similarly, Hon. Abubakar Muhammad, representing the Lokoja Local Government Council, pointed out that government success is tied to collaborations with “critical stakeholders” like the cement giant.
The traditional institution also offered its blessing. The Bajana of Obajana, HRH Idowu Isenibi, called on the graduates to become mentors. “Let this not end here. As you grow, carry others along. Teach your brothers, support your sisters, and build enterprises that will uplift our communities,” the monarch said.
Echoing this sentiment, the Elesho of Iwaa, HRH Abel Alade, described the event as the “planting of seeds” for future prosperity. “In our tradition, we say that when you teach a man how to provide for himself, you give strength not only to him, but to his entire household,” he remarked.
To ensure the training yields immediate results, the Area Manager of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Bajeh Thomas, confirmed that the company provided the participants with “starter juveniles and feed” to launch their enterprises. He said the ITF would maintain a follow-up schedule to monitor the progress of the new fish farmers.
Responding on behalf of the graduates, Mrs. Regina Idowu described the session as a “life-changing experience,” expressing gratitude to the company for providing a pathway to financial stability.
