Dangote Cement Launches ₦15.7m Scholarship for 120 Ibese Community Students
Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, has unveiled a ₦15.72 million scholarship scheme for 120 students drawn from its host communities in Ibese, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The scholarship programme will support 100 undergraduate students, alongside 20 beneficiaries from secondary and primary school levels across the 17 host communities.
The initiative was announced on Wednesday during the company’s annual Community Day celebration in Ibese.
Speaking at the event, Head of Social Performance, Dangote Cement, Mr Demola Ojolowo, while presenting the company’s Social Investment Scorecard, said the firm had completed 13 community development projects, with 10 others ongoing and expected to be delivered before the end of the year.
Ojolowo said the projects cut across skill acquisition and empowerment programmes, women empowerment initiatives, farmer support schemes, health awareness and sensitisation programmes, construction of public infrastructure, and the installation of solar inverter systems.
According to him, the scorecard demonstrates steady progress in the company’s commitments to education, empowerment, healthcare and infrastructure development within its host communities.
“As a responsible corporate organisation in mining and manufacturing, we are committed under the Community Development Agreement to complement government efforts by delivering social and economic benefits to our host communities,” Ojolowo said.
He added that Dangote Cement would continue to prioritise project efficiency, sustainability and strong partnerships with community and government stakeholders in the next phase of its development efforts.
In his remarks, the Plant Director, Mr Ayyagari Subbaraidu, said the Community Day celebration reflects the company’s consistent drive to deepen stakeholder engagement and community participation. He was represented at the event by the Chief General Manager, Maintenance, Mr Hemant Dave.
Subbaraidu described Community Day as a strategic platform for reviewing the company’s social stewardship and corporate social investments over the year.
“It is the Dangote Way — a commitment that goes beyond producing quality cement to embracing care, inclusion and partnership with our host communities,” he said.
He also appreciated the support of the Ogun State Government, customers, vendors and other stakeholders.
In a goodwill message, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Daisi Elemide, commended Dangote Cement for its sustained support for community development. However, he urged the company to address concerns over indiscriminate parking by its truck drivers along major roads in the area.
The Aboro of Ibese Land, Oba Rotimi Mulero, thanked the company for providing employment opportunities for community members but appealed for qualified indigenes to be placed in roles that match their skills and qualifications.
Also speaking, a representative of the women’s group, Mrs Sherifat Akintunde, expressed appreciation to the company for empowering women with milling machines, noting that the intervention had improved their livelihoods.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of laptops and other gadgets to beneficiaries of the Dangote ICT empowerment programme in the community, according to the News Agency of Nigeria
