By Abdullahi Inuwa
Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, has intensified its intervention in the Jakura community of Kogi State, awarding educational grants to students while providing farming inputs and financial support to farmers and market women.
The latest intervention, unveiled at a community ceremony on Monday, is part of the company’s ongoing implementation of its Community Development Agreement (CDA) and broader efforts to improve livelihoods in its host communities.
Speaking at the event, the Plant Director of Dangote Cement Obajana, Engr. Azad Nawabuddin, said the company remained committed to supporting initiatives capable of creating lasting social and economic benefits for the people.
Nawabuddin, who was represented by the Head of Social Performance at the Obajana Plant, Prince Ademola Adeyemi, said the intervention was designed to address education, agriculture and small-scale enterprise development simultaneously.
He disclosed that 20 tertiary institution students and 60 secondary school students from the community received educational grants valued at several millions of naira.
According to him, the scholarship intervention was aimed at reducing the financial burden on families while giving young people greater opportunities to pursue their education.
The company also extended its empowerment programme to agriculture, with 20 farmers receiving farming equipment and financial assistance to improve their production capacity.
Nawabuddin said the agricultural support was intended to encourage beneficiaries to adopt improved farming methods, increase productivity and contribute to food security within the community.
Similarly, 20 market women received start-up funds and business support to strengthen their trading activities, expand their enterprises and improve household income.
He said the interventions reflected Dangote Cement’s determination to promote sustainable development, reduce poverty and strengthen economic opportunities among residents of its host communities.
The ceremony brought together traditional rulers, government officials, community leaders, youth and women groups and other stakeholders.
Among those present were the Obaro of Jakura, His Royal Highness Oba Usman Adoga Ajibola; representative of the Olu of Oworo, Chief K.A. Mahmood, the Obalumema of Oworo Land; Engr. E.O. Olaitan of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development; Mrs. A.O. Onimode of the Kogi State Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, as well as members of the Jakura and Oworo traditional councils.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Jakura Community Development Agreement Committee, Chief Bonibade Ajiboye, expressed appreciation to Dangote Cement for fulfilling its commitments to the community.
Ajiboye noted that the company’s intervention went beyond the latest empowerment initiative, revealing that an electrification project being executed in the community was also nearing completion.
He commended the Obajana Plant for sustaining its partnership with Jakura despite security challenges confronting parts of the area.
In his remarks, the Obaro of Jakura, Oba Usman Adoga Ajibola, thanked God for the natural resources bestowed on the community and commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote for investing in the area.
The traditional ruler described Dangote Cement’s various interventions as evidence of the company’s commitment to improving the welfare of residents in its host communities.
He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the opportunities provided to them, stressing that the community would work to protect and sustain the projects.
The monarch also assured Dangote Cement of the community’s continued support and prayed for Allah’s blessings upon Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his philanthropy and contributions to humanity.
The goodwill messages delivered by representatives of the traditional institutions, government and community groups were unanimous in appreciating Dangote Cement for its continued partnership with Jakura.
The beneficiaries, particularly students, farmers and market women, are expected to translate the support into improved educational outcomes, increased agricultural production and stronger household incomes.
