Ibese: Dangote Cement PLC, Ibese Plant, has announced a N15.7 million scholarship for 120 students in its host community, Ibese, located in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun. The scholarship will benefit 100 undergraduates and 20 primary and secondary school students across 17 host communities. The announcement was made during the company’s annual Community Day celebration in Ibese.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Demola Ojolowo, Head of Social Performance at Dangote Cement, shared that the company has completed 13 developmental projects, with 10 more currently ongoing and expected to be finished by the end of the year. These projects include skills acquisition and empowerment initiatives, women and farmer support programs, health empowerment sensitization, construction of public infrastructure, and installation of solar inverter systems.
Ojolowo emphasized that the social investment scorecard indicates consistent progress in delivering empowerment, education, health, and infrastructure projects. “As a responsible corporate organization in mining and manufacturing, we commit under the Community Development Agreement to complement government developmental efforts through the delivery of social and economic benefits to our community stakeholders. We remain committed to enhancing project efficiency, ensuring sustainability, and fostering strong partnerships with communities and government stakeholders as we enter the next phase of our community development efforts,” Ojolowo stated.
In his address, Plant Director Ayyagari Subbaraidu, represented by Chief General Manager of Maintenance, Hemant Dave, highlighted that the Community Day reflects Dangote Cement’s ongoing efforts to engage with stakeholders and deepen community involvement. He noted that the event serves as a strategic opportunity to review the company’s social stewardship and corporate social investments throughout the year. Subbaraidu added, “It is the Dangote way, a commitment that goes beyond producing quality cement to embracing care, inclusion, and partnership with the people around us.”
Subbaraidu also expressed gratitude for the support from the Ogun government, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders. Speaker of the House of Assembly, Daisi Elemide, praised the Dangote group for its consistent support and commitment to community development but raised concerns about the parking behavior of the company’s truck drivers on major roads, urging them to address the issue promptly.
The Aboro of Ibese land, Oba Rotimi Mulero, expressed appreciation for the job opportunities created by the Dangote cement plant, while urging the company to assign community members to roles that match their qualifications. Mrs. Sherifat Akintunde, representing the women’s group, thanked the plant for empowering women with milling machines, which have alleviated the challenge of grinding farm produce.
NAN reports that a significant highlight of the event was the presentation of laptops and other gadgets to beneficiaries of the Dangote ICT empowerment program in the community.