Dangote Cement Company offers scholarship award to 120 indigents students, empowers 55 vulnerable women in Ibese

The Dangote Cement Company on Tuesday offered scholarship award to 120 outstanding and indigent students, as well as distribution of fifty-five chest freezers to support vulnerable women in starting or expanding their businesses in Ibese community of Ogun State.

Penpushing reports that the project which was part of social corporate responsibility was part of the third edition of the Ibese Plant Community Day Celebration held at the ancient community located in Yewa South local government area of the state

The Plant Director, Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant, Mr. Roy Uttam in his welcome address explained that the gathering was another testament to the existing partnership and collaboration between Ibese Plant and the community, as well as stakeholders.

‘With your backing and cooperation, this annual event has come to stay and is becoming bigger each year, providing the opportunity to review our scorecard in the area of Social Responsibility. It is also a veritable platform for us to renew our partnership and dedication to peaceful and symbiotic relationship in the coming years, in a fun – filled environment’, Uttam said.

Penpushing further reports that he stated that, no doubt, year 2024 brought its share of turbulence and uncertainty, in all spheres and across the globe, but pointed out that with the community unwavering support, both the company and the community have been able to weather the storm and achieve significant milestones.

‘It is in recognition of your invaluable contributions to our success that we have themed this Community Day as ‘Celebrating Resilience through Effective Partnership,’ Indeed, you created a conducive atmosphere for our business to thrive and substantially fulfil our end of the bargain in the Community Development Agreement (CDA), through transfer of socio-economic benefits to the people as complement to the government’s effort’, he added.

‘In consonance with the four thematic focus areas of our Social Investment Strategy, which are Infrastructure, Education, Health and Empowerment; we embarked on twenty- five (25) social investment projects, including those carried over from the previous year’.

‘We have so far made significant progress, despite the prevailing inflation, which caused us to renegotiate all of the contracts to ensure that we deliver maximum value to our communities. While we admit our inability to fully deliver yet as envisaged, please be assured of our commitment to the exhaustive completion of the rest of the projects, which are mostly at advance stages, in due course’.

‘Today, a symbolic presentation of Scholarship award to 120 outstanding and indigent students will be made alongside the distribution of fifty-five (55) chest freezers to support vulnerable women in starting or expanding their businesses’.

‘These efforts complement a range of initiatives, including a welfare program for fifty (50) elderly individuals, the provision of Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Knapsack sprayers to 60 farmers, and other empowerment programs so far carried out in the course of year’.

Penpushing also reports that Uttam said the youth constituency is a key focus for the company as a business, and Dangote company remain committed to investing in programs and projects that help young people discover their purpose and fully realize their potential.

‘Earlier this year, thirty (30) youths who completed training in shoe and leather bag making were equipped with multimillion naira starter packs. Another group of thirty (30) youths from the host communities are currently undergoing training in POP, screeding, and painting. As always, each trainee will receive tools to support their immediate startup’, he added.

‘Local content development is a priority for us as a business, as it is a proven strategy for accelerating community development. This year, we took a significant step in this direction by organizing the first-ever capacity development workshop for twenty-five (25) local vendors, themed “Leveraging DCPI’s Processes and Procedures to Build Viable Local Businesses.”

Penpushing reports that he said the management is pleased to observe that these initiatives and programs are making impact in the host communities, and therefore encourage the community leaders to establish frameworks that will ensure their continued maintenance and sustainability.

‘To this end, we look forward to the reinvigoration of Project Governance Committees in your respective communities, by leveraging the abundant human asset available in the respective communities for this purpose’.

‘Equity participation is crucial to the sustainability of social investment projects, as it fosters engagement and ownership. We hope to see more communities contributing resources to the successful implementation and monitoring of community development projects’.

‘This will not only strengthen the relationship between Dangote Cement and your community but will also help to attract support from well-meaning benefactors from around the world. As a business, we deeply appreciate the support we have been enjoying from the different tiers of government, which are ably represented at this occasion’.

‘Your deliberate programs and efforts at creating enabling environment for us to flourish are well acknowledged, including your presence here today to identify with us and our host communities’, he added.

‘To other collaborators and enablers including NGOs, the media and other well-wishers who are celebrating with our communities today, we commend your steadfastness and encouragement, which are instrumental to our successes’.

‘Let me assure all our encouraging stakeholders that our resolve to continue to contribute to the development of our communities, in line with the Community Development Agreement and our Social Responsibility Pact, remains unshaken’.

‘Our desire is an unblemished relationship between the communities as well as other stakeholders and our Plant, while we hope that you would continue to reciprocate by supporting our operations’, Uttam stated.

Penpushing further reports that traditional ruler of the community Aboro of Ibese, Oba Oluwarotimi Mulero admitted that Dangote Cement, Ibese, is alive to its social responsibilities by being concerned in the well- being of the good people of Ibese and other host communities

The monarch represented by Oba (Dr.) Daniel, Agunloye explained that it was as a result of its thoughtfulness to come together as one big family who are partners in progress that is responsible for the birth of this yearly occasion called Community Day.

‘It is a time that our communities are sold to the outside world, making it possible for some of our towns and villages to be heard about beyond the shores of our country, Nigeria. At this juncture, I wish to express our deep- seated gratitude for its laudable programmes, which have gone and are still going in boosting the economy of our land, state, country, and Africa in general’, he said.

Penpushing also reports that the traditional ruler, however, implored the management of Dangote Cement to lend more ears to the communities pleas for more developmental projects, pointing out that as  host communities, they are partners in progress.

The royal father assured that the communities will do everything to protect Dangote Cement Company, Ibese from all undesirable happenings, an equally enjoined the indigenes and residents of Ibese and other 16 host communities to see all the management and staff of the company as our sons and daughters, irrespective of their race, colour and religion.

‘I wish Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese, very many fruitful Community Day celebrations and pray that the Lord in His infinite goodness and mercy will continue to maintain and sustain it. My dear good people of Ibese and all other host communities, let Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese, as from today be a home away from home to its staff and management members. And to Dangote staff and management members, please do not rest on your oars to dish out meaningful and impactful programmes to your hosts, that we all live in peace and harmony’, he emphasised.

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