Dangote Cement Launches CSR In Host Communities

Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, has launched a multi-million naira project for its 17 host communities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

The company disclosed this via a statement by Mr Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief, Branding and Communication, Dangote Industries Ltd., on Monday in Lagos.

Chiejina explained that under the CSR activities, its empowerment programmes include skill acquisition, scholarship, farming techniques training, as well as empowerment of vulnerable women.

Chiejina said that about 120 students from primary school to higher institutions filed out to receive cheques for scholarships.

He also said that 50 vulnerable women and widows went home with grinding machines to support their household income.

Chiejina added that the company also launched its maiden issue of community newsletter to continually intimate the host communities on developments pertaining to CSR.

“In the same vein, no fewer than 60 farmers were presented to the audience as having been trained in 2022 on good agricultural practices for maize production to boost agricultural production.

“Another 30 youths are currently undergoing training on domestic electrification and installation,” he said.

Also, Mr Azad Nawabuddin, the Director, Dangote Cement Ibese Plant, said the development was a demonstration of the company’s commitment to continuously improving the relationship between the plant and its host communities in over 10 years of existence.

Nawabuddin said that the company was able to weather the challenges of 2022 and stepped up its CSR performance, because of the collaboration and understanding enjoyed from its stakeholders.

“I am delighted to state that we have stepped up our Social Performance as a Plant in 2022, in pursuit of our vision to be a world class enterprise, that is passionate about the standard of living of the people.

“Earlier in the year, we were able to renew our social contract with the host communities by signing a five-year Community Development Agreement (CDA), following extensive engagements and concessions with a wide spectrum of our community stakeholders.

“The new CDA provided an opportunity to review and improve our social performance approach in line with the Group and Global Standards, and to introduce new programmes, while also enhancing the existing ones,” he said.

Nawabuddin assured the communities that the rest of infrastructure and electrical projects, which were at advance stages, would be accomplished in due course.