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By Emmanuel Adeleke
As a way of transforming society and providing employment opportunities for the youths, Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, has empowered 30 youths from communities around Ibese, in Ogun State.
The empowerment programme which afforded the youths the opportunity to be trained on domestic electrical installation, wiring and maintenance is aimed at accelerating social and economic development of host communities and in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The youths were also presented with start-up tools for immediate commencement of their vocation after the training, which was put in place by the Ibese Plant in partnership with Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant Director, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, described the empowerment initiative as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to the continued socio-economic development of the host communities in line with the Community Development Agreement signed in 2022.
“The company’s social development strategy does not support giving people fish to eat but focuses on teaching people how to fish. The company was being proactive by engaging members of the communities, especially the youths with so much energy and vigour. We empower them to be self-sufficient and self-reliant,” he said.
Nawabuddin reeled out past empowerment initiatives of the Plant aimed at reducing unemployment gaps in the local communities and ultimately improving the standard of living, which include training in catering and event management, tailoring and fashion design and Acutherapy, from which 275 indigent youths have so far benefitted.
He commended the beneficiaries for their determination and zeal to learn new skills to better their lives, and urged them to apply the technical and entrepreneurial knowledge garnered during the training in building sustainable businesses, while committing to continued development of their skills and expertise in line with global trend.
The Deputy Area Manager, Industrial Training Fund, Abeokuta Area Office, Mrs. Funmi Coker, commended Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, for devoting resources to develop the capacity of the youths in relevant trade areas to make them useful for themselves and their immediate communities.
She further appreciated the company’s consistent collaboration to achieve the nation’s training objectives, while charging other corporate bodies to follow suit.
Also, the Vice Chairman of the Community Joint Consultative Committee, Mr. Dayo Ogunyinka, expressed delight for the company’s annual empowerment initiative, urging the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a life-changing opportunity, capable of taking them to the pinnacle of success and ensure that the starter packs received are used for the intended purpose.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Elegbede Ganiyat, from Iboro host community appreciated Dangote Cement for considering it worthy to invest in the development of the youths and described her experience during the training as enriching and everlasting.
She assured that the beneficiaries have been well prepared to carve a niche for themselves in the electrical services market in their locality and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Cement Company has handed over a multi-million naira solar-powered bore hole to the people of Abule Oke, a host community in Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State.
At a ceremony witnessed by the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye; the Baale of Abule Oke, Chief Ramoni Akinsanya, community leaders, youths, women and other indigenes Dangote Cement saidnthe gesture was in fulfillment of the promises made to the communities during its Community Day celebration last December.
Speaking during the hand over, the Plant Director, Nawabuddin emphasised the essentiality of water to the survival of humans and advised the community to make good use of the borehole facility and put up a framework to ensure its security, maintenance, and sustenance as their equity contribution to the project.
Olu of Imasayi, Oba Kuoye commended the management of Dangote Cement for “being the transformer illuminating the entire Yewaland.”
The monarch acknowledged the commitment of the company to improving the standard of living of people in its host communities.
He charged the people of Abule Oke to ensure that the borehole facility is sustained such that coming generations can benefit from the project, as only the judicious use of the facility can encourage the company to invest more in infrastructural developments in the community.
The youth leader, Abule Oke, Mr. Rafiu Akinola, expressed gratitude to the company for the provision of the water facility, adding that the intervention was timely and valuable, especially considering the fact that it is powered by solar, thus saving the community the cost of fueling and maintenance of generator.