Dangote Cement Ibese Rolls Out Multi-million Naira CSR Projects

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

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.

Amid pomp and pageantry, 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 wherever they are on developments as far as social performance record in host communities is concerned.

The traditional rulers of the host communities that graced the occasion were full of praises to 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 in an attempt to boost agricultural production while another 30 youths are currently undergoing training on Domestic Electrification and Installation.

Speaking on the occasion, 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.

He stated that it has been a milestone in over 10 years of existence of the Ibese plant, with the cardinal objective of celebrating and appreciating our primary stakeholders for granting us the social license to operate in a sustainable manner, 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 bedeviling 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 stated.

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

According to him, “this year, we embarked on a total of twenty-one (21) social investment projects across the seventeen (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 will 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. It is our hope that this support would not only continue to complement the effort of the Government in the education sector but also serve as a succor to the parents of the beneficiaries.”

Speaking with newsmen, the Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Oluwaseyi 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 explained that what Dangote Cement has been doing for the people, behooves 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 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.

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