This is just as the Ogun State government lauded the Ibese Cement Plant for partnering the state government on the development of the host communities in the state through provision of infrastructure and empowerment programmes.

Speaking during the 3rd edition of the Ibese Host Community Day, Ibese Plant Director, Mr. Roy Uttam, disclosed that 160 indigent students had benefitted from the company’s scholarship programme while others including women, youths and farmers benefitted from various empowerment programmes to make them more productive and self-employed.

Amidst intermittent applause and interjections by the Ipokia cultural troupe the Dangote Cement boss assured that the company would not rest on its oars in contributing to the development of the communities within which it operates in reciprocation for the co-operation received from the people.

Roy said the Host Community Day themed “Celebrating Resilience through Effective Partnership”, was in recognition of the communities’ invaluable contributions to Dangote Cement success story in the past years and urged them to continue in that direction noting that the communities would continue to witness development just as the cement company continued to succeed.

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Said he: “In consonance with the four thematic focus areas of our Social Investment Strategy, which are Infrastructure, Education, Health and Empowerment; we embarked on twenty- five (25) social investment projects, including those carried over from the previous year. We have so far made significant progress, despite the prevailing inflation, which caused us to renegotiate all of the contracts to ensure that we deliver maximum value to our communities.

“Today, a symbolic presentation of Scholarship award to 120 outstanding and indigent students will be made alongside the distribution of fifty-five (55) chest freezers to support vulnerable women in starting or expanding their businesses. These efforts complement a range of initiatives, including a welfare programme for 50 elderly individuals, the provision of Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Knapsack sprayers to 60 farmers, and other empowerment programmes so far carried out in the course of the year.

“Earlier this year, 30 youths who completed training in shoe and leather bag making were equipped with multimillion-naira starter packs. Another group of 30 youths from the host communities are currently undergoing training in POP, screeding, and painting. As always, each trainee will receive tools to support their immediate startup,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Ogun State Commissioner, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olu Ola Aikulola, commended Dangote Cement for its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility for growth and development across their host communities.

“You can see the different programmes they have done for the communities, skill acquisition, programme empowerment for youths and women. My take is that things should be done on need basis and I see that happening here. Last year Dangote Cement gave 50 chest freezers, and the community said they needed more and this year 55 were given to select women.

“We advocate for maximum impact; I charge the traditional rulers to follow this up and ensure that these grants and items distributed are well used for the growth of the economy.”

Giving the Cement Plant’s Social Investments scorecard, the Head of Social Performance, Dangote Cement, Ibese, Mr Ademola Ojolowo, revealed that a total of 25 social investment projects planned for 2024 with seven projects carried over from 2023 were successfully executed.

“The scholarship fund was increased by 50 per cent for tertiary institution students and by 80 per cent for secondary school students. Some of the other completed projects include; Construction of solar powered industrial borehole with overheads tank in Ibese, and Abule Maria; Construction of health centre with solar powered borehole in Imasayi; Renovation of health centre with solar powered borehole in Aga Olowo; Purchase and installation of 500KVA, 33/0.415KV transformer at Abule Oke; Support for 60 farmers (provision of fertilisers, pesticides and knapsack sprayers) from all the host communities.

“Others are empowerment for women (provision of chest freezers to 55 vulnerable women across the host communities); skill acquisition and empowerment programme for 30 youths on leather bag and shoe making; elders’ empowerment (60 senior citizens across the host communities); annual scholarship award (120 indigent students across the host communities) among others.

Speaking on behalf of other host communities’ traditional rulers, the Aboro of Iboro, Oba Daniel Abayomi Salako said the communities were happy with Dangote Cement for the efforts made to provide the people with projects and programmes that make life more meaningful.

While urging the company to do more in the coming year, he equally enjoined his people to make the best use of the infrastructures and empowerments by taking ownership and at the same time maintain the current peaceful atmosphere in the communities.

The Community Day celebration witnessed various traditional games competitions with winners rewarded with various gifts and tasting of traditional cuisines by the communities’ women group.

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The company said the gesture was aimed at complementing the effort of the government in improving the lives of the people of Ogun State especially those in whose territory the leading cement manufacturer operates.

Tagged “A Day-Out with Senior Citizens 2024”, the well-attended annual event saw the elderly ones being led in physical exercise, receiving health talks, medical checks, free drugs and other food and household items like rice, semovita, honey, beverages, bathing soaps, detergent, clothing and cash incentive.

In his address of welcome, the Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant Director, Roy Uttam said the event was aimed at increasing the level of socialisation, engagement, emotional and mental wellbeing among the elderly around its host communities.

Uttam, pointed out that the management of Ibese Plant remained deeply committed to its responsibilities under the Community Development Agreement signed in 2022, saying “we will continue to prioritise the transfer of both economic and social benefits to our host communities, focusing on areas such as health, education, infrastructure, and empowerment.

“It is gratifying that our social investment strides are making meaningful impact in the lives of people across the host communities. We are determined to keep improving and broadening our initiatives, as we work together for the benefit of all.

“As elders who have devoted your youthful lives to the growth and development of your communities, the focus now should be on your health and well-being and the overall goodness of the society. This event is designed with your health in mind, as well as to offer an opportunity to reflect and connect with one another to promote longevity,” he said.

While reveling on the success of the maiden edition last year, Mr Uttam recalled that “we hosted 50 elderly members of our host communities for the first time in the history of this Plant. It was a memorable event filled with activities that demonstrated deep recognition for this all-important people in our society and promoted healthy living among them. It was a significant milestone for the Plant and the communities.

“We have made significant improvements this year, including the identification of five persons with disabilities from our host communities, who will each receive mobility aids to enhance their quality of life. This is just one example of how we continue to expand the scope of our social investments to create even greater impact.”

Uttam assured the host communities that the plant would continue to live up to its responsibilities as regards the execution of the existing Community Development Agreement, CDA, even much more beyond  saying some of the social investment initiatives of the plant when well appraised, go beyond the letters of the signed CDA.

The Dangote Cement boss noted with nostalgia that the company’s social investment strides were making meaningful impact in the lives of people across the host communities and promised that the management was “determined to keep improving and broadening our initiatives, as we work together for the benefit of all.”

The Plant Director noted that in line with the company’s local content initiative, it had retained the services of Novia Hospital Services, a local healthcare provider, to assist in making the event a success.

He assured the people of Dangote Cement’s continued support and believed that with the people’s cooperation and collaboration, the management would continue to build on “our shared vision of peace and prosperity.”

In his own comment, the Group Head of Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the whole idea about hosting the elderly ones in the host communities borders on carrying along the old ones who were the foundation upon whom the new generations were building on.

“They also need to be active in their old age,” he stated.

Responding on behalf of other elders, a beneficiary, Pa Michael Oderinlo from Ijako-Orile host community thanked the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture especially for reaching out to the elders which he said was not a common practice among business organisations.

Said he: “It is a very rare gesture by a business organisation to take special interest in the old people and cater to their wellbeing.”

Also another beneficiary of the wheelchair, Modupeola, Olaoluwa Bankole described the wheelchair donation as very touching and timely saying she had a new lease of life with the mobility aid and thanked the Dangote Cement management for coming to her aid.

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The initiative is said to be part of the company’s broader empowerment programme designed to ensure food security for the people.

In what has become an annual programme, 60 farmers from the 17 host communities of the cement plant received fertilizers, herbicides, and knapsack sprayers to aid them in the upcoming farming season.

During the presentation event at Ibese, the farmers also received training on “Integrated Pest Management and Crop Protection,” which covered the application of the donated inputs as well as general pest management and crop protection techniques.

Director of the Ibese Plant, Roy Uttam, explained that the donation was part of Dangote Cement’s Social Investment drive, which focused on four key areas: Education, Health, Empowerment, and Infrastructure.

He emphasised that the company’s community investments and their positive impacts on local residents demonstrated Dangote Cement’s commitment to adding social value to its host communities.

“Today, sixty farmers across our 17 host communities are being trained on the theme ‘Integrated Pest Management and Crop Protection’ and each will go home with 2 bags each of 50KG NPK 15:15:15 and Urea Fertilizers, 3 litres of Force Up Herbicide and 15 litre capacity Knapsack Sprayer.”

According to him, the gesture aimed to enhance the productivity of the participating farmers, strengthen food security, and boost revenue across the agricultural value chain in the host communities.

“It is our hope that this intervention will positively impact the production of garri, fufu and kokoro, which are the major foods in the host communities,” he said.

Uttam noted that climate change and extreme weather conditions had significantly impacted crop production and agricultural pests.

He highlighted that inconsistent rainfall this year had negatively affected farmers’ productivity in the first planting season.

Experts predict that the challenges might continue to impact food harvests in 2024 and beyond.

He noted “Today’s gathering is two-fold because apart from the distribution of farm inputs, we have also engaged the services of an agricultural experts who will equip the farmers with information on best practices to remain resilient even in these times of uncertain climate trajectory.”

Recalling past support initiatives, Uttam revealed that since the start of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) in 2022, 180 farmers from the Ibese Plant’s host communities had received training, farm inputs, and tools.

The efforts, he said, had had a significant impact on the local economy.

He assured that the Cement company was committed to continuing its support for farmers across the host communities.

Uttam emphasised that the distribution of farm inputs underscored the strong relationship between the Plant and the host communities.

He noted that such empowerment programmes could only thrive in a peaceful and stable business environment.

“We do not take the support of our stakeholders, both young and old, for granted and as committed in the CDA, we will continue to strive to complement the effort of the Government towards the socio-economic development of the local communities.”

The Plant Director acknowledged the crucial role farmers played in sustaining every community, emphasising that their daily efforts in tilling the land to ensure food availability were essential to human existence.

To maximize the positive impact of Dangote Cement’s contributions to enhancing farmers’ productivity, he urged the beneficiaries to utilize the provided resources to expand their farms.

He encouraged them to elevate their communities to become the leading food producers of Yewa and Ewekoro, and to contribute to Ogun State’s overall agricultural success.

“I also implore you to also continue to get updated with new developments in the agriculture space and as much as possible, embrace the use of technology to remain competitive in this rapidly changing world. At Dangote Cement, Ibese, we assure you of our unflinching commitment to complementing the Government’s effort through value adding initiatives geared towards the overall development of the Community on a continuous basis,” Uttam concluded.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Communities’ Representatives, Dayo Ogunyinka, expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement’s management for the intervention.

He highlighted that the farmers’ empowerment came at a critical time, as nearly 80 per cent of the incomes in the communities were spent on food.

Ogunyinka noted that the donated implements would greatly assist the farmers in achieving better yields and bumper harvests. He urged the farmers to take the training seriously, as it would provide essential guidance on the proper use of the donated items.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a farmer, Waheed Orisatola, from the Abule-Oke host community assured that the farmers would honour Dangote Cement’s support and use the implements as intended.

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