Indigenes of the host communities to the Dangote cement Plc, in Ibese,
Yewa and Ewekoro in Ogun state are in for better times as the cement
company announced the inauguration of some 19 different Corporate Social
Service projects for the communities.
In what is regarded as a major boost to the CSR profile of the leading
cement manufacturers, the projects covered various social sectors,
including water, education, electricity, roads, IT etc.
It would be recalled that the company had some years ago instituted
scholarships for the indigenes of any of the host communities in any
higher institution and secondary schools. Over 90 of them has since
benefitted from the scholarships last year.
The management said yesterday that it was poised to making life more
meaningful to all members of the over 16 communities bordering the cement
plant and that all projects would be ensure meets the specific need of
each community.
Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communication,
Engr. Mansur Ahmed explained that the projects were agreed upon after a
careful deliberation and discussion with the community Obas, Chiefs and
the youth leaders so that the project could be relevant to their needs.
He thanked the Obas and other community leaders for their cooperation with
the Dangote cement management noting that it was as a result of the
collaboration that made possible the peace and tranquillity being enjoyed
in the host communities Engr. Ahmed promised the community leaders that
Dangote Cement would continue to be alive to its Corporate Social
Responsibilities and urged them to come forward to offer useful ideas and
advises that could propel the company to do more for the development of
the communities.
He highlighted some of the projects to included: 3 domestic boreholes for
Elere, Babalawo and Kajola Communities; 10 domestic boreholes for Afami,
Ajibawo, Aga-Akinronbi, Aga-Owoyele, Aga-Ashade, Abule Oke, Abule Maria,
Ijako-Orile, Wasimi-Imasayi and Balogun; 4 Industrial boreholes for Ibese
(2) and Imasayi (2); Construction of 10 classrooms for Ibese and
Construction of another 5 classrooms for Balogun communities.
He listed others as the Award of Scholarship to 77 between 2013 and 2014
sessions for secondarypupils, Polytechnic and University students who are
native of the host communities. The Company is also providing Community
Information Technology Training at Ibese, Aga-Olowo, and Ijako-Orile,
where two batches have already finished training while the Construction of
Ibese/Ilaro road, and that of Ibese/Itori road for all the Communities are
on-going.
Engr Mansur said these were aside the fact that the grading of Community
Internal road network along Wasimi-Imasayi is under construction and the
drain work Drain work at Olu of Ilaro/Paramount Ruler’s road, Ilaro, is
nearing completion.
The Dangote Group boss also informed that the electrification and
transformer replacement at Afami and Ibese has been awarded while the
construction of 10 bathrooms and toilets with overhead tanks is ongoing
for Balogun community. He explained that that the drilling of boreholes
and the overhead tanks is completed while standby 7.5 KV generators to
complement the infrastructure is awaiting installation.
He stated that one of the core values of Dangote Group as a whole is to
improve the standard of living of the people through production of quality
household products, provision of gainful employment and the development of
areas from where it operates.
The executive Director noted that it was therefore not by accident that
Dangote Cement decided to lift the host communities and people by
providing amenities needed to make life easy for them and that the
educational scholarship is to compliment the CSR activities by focusing on
education of the children in the host communities as leaders of tomorrow.
He then told the community members that for all the on-going projects, a
monitoring team comprising of members of the communities and the
management of Dangote cement would be constituted to ensure timely
completion while those completed would be monitored to ensure they are
judiciously put into good use.