Dangote cement awards multi-million-naira scholarships to Benue students

DANGOTE Cement Plc’s Gboko Plant has awarded multi-million-naira scholarships to secondary and tertiary students from six host communities in Benue State as part of efforts to promote education and community development.

The company also presented starter packs, working tools and certificates to graduates of its Youth Empowerment Programme to enable them to establish businesses, apply their newly acquired skills and achieve financial independence.

The beneficiaries are from Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur and Pass Brothers communities.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Henry Dele Alake, commended the company for its community development initiatives, urging other private sector operators to adopt similar interventions to promote socio-economic development in their host communities.

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Alake, represented by the Federal Mines Officer of the ministry in Benue State, Engineer Achi Gregory, urged Dangote Cement to sustain its commitment to implementing the Community Development Agreement (CDA) reached with its host communities.

Speaking at the presentation Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Wakeel Olayiwola, said the programmes demonstrated the company’s commitment to equipping young people with practical skills and resources to encourage entrepreneurship, create jobs and improve livelihoods.

Olayiwola, represented by the Head of Social Performance at the Gboko Plant, Dr Johnson Kor, said the scholarship and youth empowerment initiatives complemented other community development 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 in the host communities as evidence of the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Singh, represented by the General Manager, Production, Engr Tabershima Soom, said the plant had also launched a women empowerment programme targeting 150 women and a farmers’ empowerment initiative for 50 farmers.

He said the women received financial support to strengthen their businesses, while farmers were provided with agricultural inputs to support their farming activities.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Barr Dooshima Orosaga, who represented the Benue State Attorney-General, commended Dangote Cement for complying with the Community Development Agreement.

She urged the beneficiaries and host communities to maximise the opportunities provided by the company’s interventions.

The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area, Hon Yina Elias, pledged the council’s continued support for the company, describing Dangote Cement as an example of responsible corporate citizenship.

Similarly, the District Head of Ukpekpe, Chief Tsegba Igbarumun, praised the Gboko Plant for its contributions to the development of the host communities.

He assured the company of the communities’ continued support, adding that residents valued their mutually beneficial relationship with the cement manufacturer and would continue to serve as its ambassadors.

A beneficiary of the Youth Empowerment Programme, Mr Ignatius Aondohemba, thanked the company for the support, pledging to use the skills and resources provided to establish a business and eventually employ other people.