Mining communities hail Dangote Cement’s CSR

By Ese Awhotu

Host communities around the Dangote Cement Plant at Obajana in Kogi State have commended the Dangote Cement Plc for its numerous supports in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The four Kingdoms who are the host communities said the Dangote Cement has liberated them from economic and social backwardness, adding that "like Oliver Twist we are still asking for more."
The Kingdoms are: Apata, Iwaa, Obajana and Oyo respectively.
His Royal Highness the Oba of Oyo Community Solomon Obahawu thumped up the Dangote Cement for resettling them and for providing other utilities that have made life meaningful to them.
The philanthropic activities of the Dangote Cement Plc, according to him include the provision of yearly scholarship running into millions of naira, the construction of school and hospital, as well as the construction concrete road.
Other support from the Dangote Cement, he said include the provision of job opportunities for indigenes and for awarding them contracts at the factory.
The Oba however urged the company to scale up job opportunities being offered their members.
While commending the company for the hospital, he urged the government to support Dangote Cement by providing drugs and more professional health workers.
Dangote has expended over a billion naira in CSR to the Obajana Plant communities.
Speaking also, the Oba of Iwaa, Francis Oke Migbole said the Dangote Cement had started a economic empowerment programme for women in Iwaa, adding that such effort should be sustained.
While commending the company for its ongoing hospital project in his Kingdom, he said there was the need to speed up and complete the project.
He thanked the President Alhaji Aliko Dangote for awarding them contracts in the factory to enable them help their people.
In the same vein, the Oba of Obajana Idowu Isenibi has described as economic development the ongoing construction of 42.5KM Obajana-Kabba concrete road by the Dangote Group, saying it is the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria.
He said: "I strongly believe that our economy which has been paralyzed for a long time will come back to normal. The high rate of insecurity on this road will be drastically reduced. Our farm produce that have been down will bounce back and those plying the road, will not have difficulties."
He listed some of the benefits the communities have been enjoying from partnership with the Dangote Group to include: Cement factory, which is the largest in the world; Dangote Academy Training School, presence of banks, roads, Agro sack factory, Air Strip, employment opportunities and electricity among others.
He also announced that the Dangote Group had just provided two electric transformers for the Obajana community.
"Just the way God gave Jesus to Christians and Prophet Muhammad to Muslims, he also brought Aliko Dangote to help Nigerians," he said.
The Oba of Apata HRH Oba Federick D.O. Balogun J.P said he would do everything possible in ensuring that the Dangote investment in his territory are protected.
He said the company has provided for them employment, education, water and employment, among other things.