Dangote Company Rolls Out Multi-Million Naira CSR

Dangote Cement Rolls Out Multi-Million Naira CSR Projects

By: Sekinat Salam-Opebiyi

Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese plant, has taken its social performance initiative higher with the launch of multi-million Naira Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects for its host communities in Nigeria.

During the event tagged “2022 Host Community Day”, the company unveiled various empowerment programmes in skill acquisition, scholarship, farming techniques training as well as empowerment of vulnerable women in its 17 host communities.

More than 120 students from primary school to higher institutions filed out to receive their scholarship cheques, while 50 vulnerable women among them widows went home with grinding machines to support their household income.

Dangote Cement Ibese Plant equally launched its maiden issue of the Community Newsletter as part of measures to intimate the people of the host communities on developments.

The traditional rulers of the host communities that graced the occasion commended the management of Dangote Cement as they joined in the unveiling of some projects already completed for the use of the people

In the same vein, no fewer than 60 farmers were presented to the audience as having been trained in the year on Good Agricultural Practices for Maize Production to boost agricultural production while another 30 youths are currently undergoing training on Domestic Electrification and Installation.

The Dangote Cement Ibese Plant Director, Mr Azad Nawabuddin described the event as a demonstration of the Company’s commitment to continuous improvement of the relationship between Ibese Plant and its Host Communities

Me Nawabuddin stated that "it has been a milestone in over 10 years of existence of Ibese plant, with the cardinal objective of celebrating and appreciating our primary stakeholders for granting us the social license to operate sustainably, while also taking stock of our imprints within the calendar year.

“I make bold to say that Dangote Cement Plant Ibese has been able to weather the challenges of the year 2022 because of the collaboration and understanding enjoyed by our stakeholders. The socio-economic challenges bedevilling businesses across the globe and in Nigeria notwithstanding, I am delighted to state that we have stepped up our Social Performance as a Plant in 2022, in pursuit of our vision to be a world-class enterprise that is passionate about the standard of living of the people.”

He said;  " Earlier in the year, we were able to renew our social contract with the host communities by signing a five-year Community Development Agreement (CDA), following extensive engagements and concessions with a wide spectrum of our community stakeholders. The new CDA provided an opportunity to review and improve our social performance approach in line with the Group and Global Standards, and to introduce new programmes, while also enhancing the existing ones.

While expressing appreciation to the community leaders, representatives and members who worked assiduously in achieving the feat, Mr Nawabuddin assured the people of his management’s commitment to keeping to the terms of the agreement.

According to him, “this year, we embarked on 21 social investment projects across the I'm

17 host communities, in line with the thematic focus of DCP’s Social Investments i.e. Education, Health, Infrastructure and Empowerment, and we have so far recorded remarkable progress in their implementations.

“As of today, we have completed the 435m township road at Aga Olowo,  a block of five classrooms at First African Church Mission School at Balogun, a block of five classrooms at United African Methodist Church School at Ibese, a block of five classrooms at United Anglican Primary School at Ibese, Lecture Theatre at School of Nursing at Ilaro, Solar Powered Borehole at Wasimi Imasayi, Health Centre at Iboro, and installation of LT Poles and Conductors at Kajola and Babalawo communities.

“The rest of the infrastructure and electrical projects are at advanced stages and would be accomplished in due course. There will be symbolic commissioning and handing over of the completed projects at this event."

“Also, the number of beneficiaries of the annual Scholarship Award to brilliant and indigent students, which commenced in the 2012/2013 session, has massively increased from 28 students to 120 students with 103 in the tertiary institutions and 17 in secondary schools. We hope that this support would not only continue to complement the effort of the Government in the education sector but also serve as a succour to the parents of the beneficiaries.

“Let me also place on record that so far, the Plant has given out 870 scholarship awards as a means of contributing to the capacity development of our people. Youths, Women and Farmers are not left out of this year’s community development initiatives. Thirty youths are currently being trained on Domestic Electrification and Installation by our implementing partner, Industrial Training Fund. All the trainees will receive their starter packs upon the completion of the extensive and practical training in January 2023, to enable them to put the training into productive use," Nawabuddin explained  

He explained that the 60 farmers were trained on Good Agricultural Practices for Maize Production to introduce the farmers to modern agriculture techniques and cutting-edge technology in farming following which they were supported through land clearing, seedlings, herbicides and fertilizer provision for maize planting on a hectare of land each.

Nawabuddin said another innovation being brought into the plant’s Social Performance Operations, is the launch of an annual Community Newsletter to give an account of our stewardship in this critical area of our business and showcase other people-focused activities of our Plant to the delight of our people.

Speaking with newsmen, the Aboro of Ibeseland, (Mornarch), Oba Rotimi Mulero thanked the management of Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant for their unrelenting efforts at impacting their host communities positively describing the social performance profile of the company as very impressive.

He said that what Dangote Cement has been doing for the people, behoves the community leaders and all the residents to reciprocate and ensure peace reigns for the good of all so that the company can do more.

Oba Mulero said much as the people and community leaders are lauding the company for the giant strides in the host communities

“I am also enjoining them not to rest on their oars. As Oliver twist, we are still asking for more because all these projects can never be too much for the people.

Dangote Cement has done excellently well, are we to talk about the grinding machine to the vulnerable women, the youth empowerment or the farmers training for better yields, these are programmes that touch on the economic well-being of our people and we are grateful for these.”

The Monarch, Kayode Kosoro, the Olu of Aga Olowo described the Community Day as a good one as it affords the people of bonding together with the Dangote Cement Ibese management and compare notes on the journey so far

According to him, “the presence of Dangote Cement in the Yewa North local government area of Ogun state has marked out the area as an industrial hub because, by the presence, other ancillary businesses are now springing up.

  

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