By Uche Nnorom
Dangote Cement Plc’s Gboko Plant has awarded multi-million-naira scholarships to secondary and tertiary students from its six host communities in Benue State as part of efforts to promote education and community development.
The company also distributed starter packs, working tools and certificates to graduates of its Youth Empowerment Programme to enable them to establish businesses, apply the skills acquired during training and achieve financial independence.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Henry Dele Alake, commended the company for its community development initiatives, urging other private sector operators to emulate its efforts to promote socio-economic development in their host communities.
Alake, represented by the Federal Mines Officer of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Benue State, Engr. Achi Gregory, also urged Dangote Cement to sustain its commitment to implementing community development programmes agreed upon with its host communities.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Group Head of Social Performance at Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the implementation of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) reflected the company’s commitment to equipping young people with practical skills and resources to encourage entrepreneurship, create jobs and improve livelihoods.
Olayiwola, who was represented by the Head of Social Performance at the Gboko Plant, Dr. Johnson Kor, said the scholarship and youth empowerment initiatives complemented other programmes recently implemented by the company, including interventions targeting farmers and women.
The Acting Plant Director of Dangote Cement, Gboko, Engr. Arbind Singh, described the annual scholarship scheme for indigent students from the host communities as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to its corporate social responsibility obligations.
Singh, represented by the General Manager of Production, Engr. Tabershima Soom, said the plant had also launched a women’s empowerment programme targeting 150 beneficiaries and a farmers’ empowerment programme for 50 beneficiaries.
He explained that women received cash support to strengthen their businesses, while farmers were provided with agricultural inputs to support their farming activities.
The six beneficiary communities are Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur and Pass Brothers.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Barr. Dooshima Orosaga, who represented the Benue State Attorney-General, commended the company for complying with the Community Development Agreement.
She urged the beneficiaries and host communities to make effective use of the opportunities provided through the company’s interventions.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area, Hon. Yina Elias, assured the company of the government’s continued support, describing Dangote Cement as a model in the implementation of corporate social responsibility programmes.
Similarly, the District Head of Ukpekpe, Chief Tsegba Igbarumun, praised the Gboko Plant for its contributions to the communities and assured the company of their continued cooperation.
Igbarumun said the community valued its mutually beneficial relationship with the company and would continue to support its operations.
A beneficiary of the Youth Empowerment Programme, Mr. Ignatius Aondohemba, expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for the assistance, pledging to put the skills and resources provided to productive use.
He said his ambition was to establish a business that would enable him to become financially independent and employ other people.
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