Dangote Cement Triples Bursary for Benue Host Communities
By Patience Ikpeme
In a major boost for educational development in Benue State, Dangote Cement Plc has expanded its annual scholarship fund for host communities around its Gboko Plant.
The company increased the value of the intervention from the previous ten million naira to approximately thirty million naira, representing a threefold rise in its commitment to local students.
Speaking during the symbolic cheque presentation in Gboko, the Head of Social Performance for the Gboko Plant, Dr. Johnson Kor, stated that the company broadened the intervention to accommodate a larger number of beneficiaries.
The Plant Director, Engr. Abhijit Dutta, who was represented by the Head of Finance, Olusegun Orebanjo, confirmed that no fewer than 230 students are set to benefit from the 2025 education scheme.
The scope of the program now extends beyond the immediate host community of Mbayion to include mining communities of Mbatur in Yandev district, Mbazembe in Ipav district, and the Pass Brothers community in Guma local government council.
Engr. Dutta remarked that the company views these communities as more than neighbors, describing them as “valued partners in progress.” He noted, “The sustainability of this scholarship scheme for indigent but deserving students reflects our deep-rooted passion for education and human capital development.”
The ceremony also served as a graduation for participants of a youth skill acquisition program sponsored by the plant and supervised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
Regarding the financial specifics, Engr. Dutta said, “In further demonstration of this commitment, the scholarship fund has this year been reviewed upward to ₦28,800,000.00, and its scope expanded to cover all six host communities, strictly in line with the provisions of the Community Development Agreement (CDA). This deliberate expansion reflects our desire to ensure equity, inclusiveness, and shared benefits across all our immediate communities.”
The Director added that the company maintains this educational support as a long-term social investment rather than a one-off gesture. “Dangote Cement Plc has consistently sustained this educational intervention over the years and will continue to do so, because we firmly believe that when our communities grow, our business thrives. While congratulating the beneficiaries, we encourage that the scholarship fund be prudently and responsibly utilised for educational purposes,” he stated.
Beyond the classroom, the company rolled out several other people-centered development programs in 2025. These include a Women Empowerment Programme for 150 beneficiaries, a Farmers’ Empowerment Programme for 50 participants, and a Youth Empowerment Programme for 30 individuals. These initiatives reached communities including Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers.
“These interventions are designed not only to provide skills, but to restore dignity, promote self-reliance, and stimulate sustainable livelihoods within the communities,” Engr. Dutta noted as graduates received certificates and starter packs to begin their own enterprises.
Traditional leaders and educational stakeholders also lent their voices to the occasion. The Ter Gboko, Gabriel Shosum, who was represented by the Mue Ter Gboko, Ikpa Ahua, advised the students to put the bursary to judicious use.
Additionally, Mrs. Sarah Adeniyi of the ITF commended Dangote Cement Plc as a worthy partner for its consistent support of youth development.
Gabriel Yo Hol, a 16-year-old student from Amua Memorial Grammar School, spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressing gratitude for the financial support and pledging to act as an ambassador for the company.
