Dangote Cement Commended For Beneficial Impact On Host Communities During 2023 Annual Host Community Day (+photos)

IBESE-YEWA, OGUN STATE – The Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Hon. Adegbola Sofela, has showered encomium on Dangote Cement Plc during the 2023 Dangote Cement Host Community Day in Ibese-Yewa, Ogun State, for its continuous support to local residents.

Dr. Olu Ola Aikulola, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, represented Sofela at the event, commended the company’s generosity toward the indigent members of its host communities.

He urged the company to sustain its contributions while emphasizing the need for a peaceful environment for the company’s operations, advising that the company to continue giving out to the host communities, because of its operation which is mining that exposes them to health hazard.

Much as the Dangote Cement is a blessing to the people, he enjoined them to maintain peace because it is only in the atmosphere of peace that the company can thrive and help the people more, adding that the Ogun state government would be ready to assist should the need arises.

He however, urged the beneficiaries to make use of objects giving to them judiciously and make their communities be proud of them.

The Plant Director of Dangote Cement, Mr. Nawabuddin Azad, highlighted the various projects and social investments undertaken by the company.

These initiatives ranged from educational support, healthcare facilities, farming tools distribution, empowerment programs for youths and women, to community engagement efforts aimed at the overall development of the host communities.

His words, “This year, we embarked on twenty-three (23) social investment projects and revamp of ten (10) non-functional CSR projects across the seventeen (17) host communities, in line with the thematic focus of DCP’s Social Investments i.e. Education, Health, Infrastructure and Empowerment, and we have so far recorded remarkable progress in their implementations.

“As at today, we have completed the installation of 33/0.415KV line through a 500KVA step down transformer in Imasayi; Construction of one Solar Powered Borehole at Abule-Oke; Construction of a Health Centre at Ijako Orile and Construction of a block of ten (10) toilets at Abule Maria.

“Others are Construction of Perimeter fence at African Church Primary School, Onigbedu; Construction of 1 No Solar Powered borehole at Araromi; Revamp of 2 Nos Boreholes with Solar Power in Balogun and Revamp of 2 Nos Boreholes with Solar Power in Afami.”

Azad added that, in year 2023, the company recorded another first with the maiden edition of the ‘Care for the Elderly’ programme held in October, which had Fifty (50) aged men and women from the host communities as beneficiaries.

On the company’s scholarship Scheme, Azad disclosed that Scholarship scheme begins in 2012/2013 academic session, explaining that beneficiaries are always presented by various Communities through Scholarship Management Committee.

“The scheme has grown to involve 103 tertiary institution students and 17 secondary school students on annual basis. The process starts with nomination of students from the respective communities for screening by the Scholarship Management Committee.

“Selected students enjoy the Scholarship up to graduation, after which the concerned communities make replacement. A total of 989 Scholarships have been awarded under the scheme to date with many testaments to its positive impacts in the various communities”, Azad posited.

He further explained that the company empowers youths across the host communities yearly since 2019, saying, “Host community youths had been empowered in vocations such as Catering and Event Management, Acutherapy, Tailoring and Fashion designing, and Domestic Electrification in the previous years.

“This year, 30 Youths selected from the 17 host communities are being trained on Shoe and Bag Making, with the Industrial Training Fund as our implementing partner.

“The training, which commenced in October, will be completed at the end of the year, following which each beneficiary will receive starter packs comprising leather sewing machine, filing machine and other tools to enable them become active entrepreneur.”

Azad also revealed the requirements for the selection of beneficiaries of farming tools in which numbers of farmers have benefited from it.

“As part of DCPI contribution to the socio-economic development of the host communities, annual support to farmers is included in the Community Development Agreement in 2022.

“The criteria for selection of benefitting farmers include indigeneship and residence in the respective host communities, ownership of farmland, and basic understanding of arable farming.

“Last year, the first set of Sixty (60) beneficiaries were trained on Good Agricultural Practice in maize farming, assisted with land preparation, provision of farm inputs and offered extension services up to harvest.

“For 2023, Dangote has procured Sixty (60) Weeding Machines for the beneficiaries. This is very timely as the current exchange rate has made it difficult to source labour from the neigbouring Benin Republic as was the usual practice.

“The farmers have undergone one-day training on the usage and basic maintenance of the tool. The Implementing partner, Equinox, which is also locally sourced to promote local content also offered to train specially two (2) of the beneficiaries on the repair to guarantee sustainability.

“The machine has the capacity to remove weed from farms, cut shrubs and plough. Hence, the beneficiaries are enjoined to ensure that the machines are put to good use to increase harvest in the coming years”, Azad stated.

He concluded that, in recognition of the important role women play in building families and by extension, the society, he explained that, “DCPI provides a platform for regular engagement with women representatives of the Host Communities tagged Women Assembly.

“In 2022, we inaugurated a specific programme to empower vulnerable women in the host communities annually. Fifty (50) women were empowered with pepper grinding machines at the maiden edition. This intervention is helping the beneficiaries cope with the prevailing economic challenge in the country.

“This year, the Company reached out to assess the needs of the Women in our host communities and came up with the request for Chest Freezers to help our people start new businesses and expand existing ones. It is our joy that the proposal has now come to fruition. Fifty (50) lucky women will go home with these freezers after today”, the plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc enthused.

Underscoring Dangote Cement’s commitment to intentional empowerment programmes, Nawabuddin stressed their dedication to improving the overall well-being and development of the host communities.

The programme witnessed the presence of local traditional rulers, ministry officials, and enthusiastic community members, all lauding the impactful social investments made by Dangote Cement in the area.

They expressed gratitude for the company’s continuous support, vowing to utilize the resources provided efficiently for the betterment of their communities.

Oba Kayode Kusoro, the Olu of Aga Olowo, highlighted the significant transformation brought about by Dangote Cement’s presence in Yewa North, turning it into an industrial hub.

Traditional rulers from neighboring areas also graced the event, acknowledging the positive changes ushered in by the company’s initiatives.

They nclude Oba Daniel Abayomi Salako, the Aboro of Iboro-Yewa; Olu of Imasayi-Yewa, Oba Lukman Kuoye; Oba Kayode Kusoro, the Olu of Aga Olowo and Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Mulero among other traditional rulers and large members of the host communities.