Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, has strengthened its commitment to community development by awarding educational grants to students and providing financial and material support to farmers and market women in Jakura, Kogi State. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Plant Director, Azad Nawabuddin, represented by the Head of Social Performance, Prince Ademola Adeyemi, said the initiative was part of the company’s Community Development Agreement and its efforts to promote poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods. A total of 20 tertiary institution students and 60 secondary school students received educational grants worth millions of naira, while 20 farmers received farming implements and financial assistance to boost agricultural productivity and food security. Another 20 market women received start-up capital and business support to expand their businesses and improve household incomes.
The event attracted traditional rulers, government representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders, including the Obaro of Jakura, Oba Usman Adoga Ajibola, and representatives of the Oworo traditional council and the federal and Kogi State ministries responsible for solid minerals. In his welcome address, Chairman of the Jakura Community Development Agreement Committee, Chief Bonibade Ajiboye, commended Dangote Cement for fulfilling its commitments to the community, adding that an electrification project was nearing completion. He also praised the company for sustaining its interventions despite security challenges in the area.
Oba Ajibola expressed appreciation to Dangote Cement President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for investing in the area and commended the company’s development projects for improving residents’ welfare. He described the empowerment programme as another demonstration of the company’s commitment to its host communities and pledged that the community would ensure the sustainability of the projects and encourage beneficiaries to use the support effectively.
