By Abubakar Yunusa
Dangote Cement Plc on Friday commissioned a multi-million naira cottage hospital in Obajana, Kogi State, in a move aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare for residents of the host community and neighbouring towns.
The healthcare facility, delivered under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, is expected to provide primary and secondary healthcare services, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for medical treatment.
The commissioning ceremony also witnessed the conferment of traditional chieftaincy titles on top management staff of the company in recognition of their contributions to the development of Obajana Kingdom.
The Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Arvind Pathak, was installed as the Mayegun of Obajana Kingdom, while the Plant Director of the Obajana Plant, Engr Azad Nawabuddin, received the title of Babagunwa.
Head of Social Performance, Mr Wakeel Olayiwola, was honoured with the title of Adeyanju, General Manager, Social Performance, Ademola Adeyemi, became the Imokan of Obajana, while Head of Human Resource and Administration, Dangote Packaging Limited, Bashir Uba, was installed as the Eri-Oba of Obajana Kingdom.
Speaking during the event, the Acting Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Engr Panjala Sreedhar, said the hospital was conceived after consultations with stakeholders identified healthcare as one of the community’s most pressing needs.
He said the facility was built to provide comprehensive healthcare services for residents of Obajana and surrounding communities.
According to him, the hospital has male, female and children’s wards, private wards, consulting rooms, a meeting room, 19 sanitary facilities, digital blood pressure monitoring equipment, a dedicated borehole water supply and other essential medical infrastructure.
Sreedhar expressed confidence that the project would improve maternal and child healthcare, strengthen healthcare delivery and enhance the wellbeing of people in the area.
He noted that Dangote Cement had continued to invest in education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment and livelihood programmes across Obajana, Oyo, Iwaa, Apata and Jakura communities through regular engagement with stakeholders.
He announced that the company had approved additional projects, including ICT centres for Oyo and Iwaa communities, electrification projects in Jakura, vocational and skills acquisition programmes for youths, perimeter fencing of the Obajana Cultural Heritage Site and fencing of the UBE Secondary School in Apata.
Sreedhar reaffirmed the company’s commitment to maintaining strong partnerships with its host communities through projects that create shared value.
He also commended Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing a conducive environment for businesses, saying the administration’s support had contributed to the growth of the company’s operations in the state.
The Bajana of Obajana, Engr Idowi Isenibi, described the hospital as a dream fulfilled, assuring the company that the community would protect the facility and ensure it serves its intended purpose.
“Dangote is a blessing to this community,” the traditional ruler said.
Representing Governor Ododo, the Special Assistant on Corporate Social Responsibility, Hon Paul Sunday, praised Dangote Cement for its sustained investment in community development and urged the company to provide medical personnel to run the hospital pending the deployment of government health workers.
Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Hon Abdullahi Adamu, described the hospital as a major intervention that would improve healthcare delivery in the area.
He appealed to residents to make good use of the facility and urged the company to sustain its support for local security outfits, especially vigilante groups operating within Obajana.
The Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of the Okun Traditional Council, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, also commended Dangote Cement for delivering the project, describing it as a significant contribution to community development.
He urged residents to take ownership of the hospital by ensuring its proper maintenance.
Group Head, Socio-Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Wakeel Olayiwola, said the cordial relationship between the company and its host communities made the project possible.
He disclosed that since 2025, Dangote Cement had expanded its CSR interventions beyond its immediate host communities and pledged that the company would continue to implement projects that improve livelihoods and support sustainable development.
General Manager, Social Performance, Obajana Plant, Ademola Adeyemi, said several other projects captured under the Community Development Agreement were also being planned.
He thanked the traditional rulers for honouring members of the management team with chieftaincy titles, saying the recognition would further motivate the company to deepen its investment in peaceful and sustainable community development.
