Dangote Cement Commits Millions In Scholarship Scheme

Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko Plant, has awarded multi-million-naira scholarships to tertiary and secondary school students from its six host communities in Benue.

The company also presented starter packs, working tools and certificates to graduates of its Youth Empowerment Programme to enable them to establish their own businesses, apply the skills acquired during the training, and become financially reliant.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, lauded Dangote Cement Plc for its community development interventions, calling on other private sector players to adopt similar initiatives to promote socio-economic development in their host communities.

Alake, who was represented by the Federal Mines Officer of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Benue, Achi Gregory, urged the company to sustain its commitment to implementing community development programmes agreed upon with its host communities.

Speaking at the official presentation ceremony, Group Head of Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the implementation of the Community Development Agreement underscores Dangote Cement’s commitment to equipping youths with practical skills and resources.

He said this would promote entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities and improve livelihoods in its host communities.

Olayiwola, who was represented by the Head of Social Performance of the Dangote Cement, Gboko Plant, Dr. Johnson Kor, said the scholarship and youth empowerment programmes came against the backdrop of several other programmes recently executed by the company.

He said that others programmes include the farmers’ and women’s empowerment programmes.

The Acting Plant Director, Dangote Cement, Gboko, Arbind Singh, said, “This annual scholarship scheme for indigent students of the host communities is an indication of our company’s commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).”

Singh, who was represented by the company’s General Manager, Production, Tabershima Soom, said, “The Gboko Plant has already launched the 150 Women Empowerment Programme and 50 Farmers Empowerment Programme where women were provided with cash to support their businesses, and farmers were supported with farm inputs.”

The beneficiary communities for these programmes are: Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers.

Speaking on behalf of the Benue State Attorney-General, the Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Dooshima Orosaga, commended Dangote Cement Plc for its compliance with the Community Development Agreement (CDA).

She urged the beneficiaries and host communities to maximise the benefits of the company’s interventions.

Chairman of the Gboko Local Government, Yina Elias, said the state government would continue to provide the support needed for the company to succeed, adding that Dangote Cement Plc is an exemplary company in corporate social responsibility programmes.

In his remarks, the District Head of Ukpekpe, Chief Tsegba Igbarumun, commended Dangote Cement Plc’s Gboko Plant for its contributions to the community, assuring the company of the community’s continued support.

He said the community valued its mutually beneficial relationship with the company and would continue to serve as its ambassadors.

A beneficiary of the Youth Empowerment Programme, Mr Ignatius Aondohemba, expressed appreciation to Dangote Cement Plc for the support, pledging to put the skills and resources provided to good use and build a business that would enable him to become an employer of labour.

Credit: NAN