Dangote Cement Plc has expanded its scholarship programme to cover 51 communities within the Oworo District of Kogi State. The Plant Director, Azad Nawabuddin, announced this at the scholarship award ceremony in Obajana on Monday.
Although the Oworo communities do not fall directly within the company’s catchment areas, Dangote Cement has chosen to extend its generosity by including all 51 communities in the district as beneficiaries of the scheme, according to a statement from the firm.
The plant director noted that Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, already operates a scholarship scheme for its host communities in line with provisions of the Community Development Agreement. He added that, beyond the scholarship programme, the company is also providing five boreholes to five different Oworo communities, which further demonstrates its commitment to improving the welfare of the Oworo people.
“We remain committed to sustaining our Corporate Social Responsibility programme across the Oworo District,” Nawabuddin assured. The General Manager of Social Performance, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, disclosed that out of the initial 50 beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme, 26 are females, while 24 are males.
Adeyemi said, “As a policy, we will continue with each beneficiary until they complete their academic programmes, provided they are able to sustain their academic performance, and we will only replace them with fresh beneficiaries upon the exit of some current beneficiaries from school.”
He added that the scholarship programme symbolises hope, opportunity, and the belief that every child, regardless of background, deserves a chance to pursue their dreams through education.
The President of the Oworo Development Association, Alhaji Jibril Ibrahim, commended Dangote Cement Plc for what he described as a dream come true for the Oworo people. “To our young beneficiaries, I urge you to see this scholarship as a challenge to excel. Work hard, remain disciplined, and make your community proud,” he advised.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, represented by the acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Omolayo Bilkisu, said the government of Kogi State believes in a public-private sector partnership to move the state forward. “We are proud of the support the company is offering to the communities through its education and empowerment programmes,” she added.
The Olu of Apata, Oba Federick Balogun, said, “Education remains the strongest foundation for development, and by supporting our sons and daughters in their academic pursuits, Dangote Cement has once again demonstrated its commitment to the growth and well-being of its host communities.”
Victoria Temitope, a Chancellor in one of the wards of the Oworo communities, thanked the President of the Dangote Group for the support and urged beneficiaries to maximise the advantages by studying hard.
