Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, has strengthened its support for the Jakura community through scholarship awards and empowerment programmes for farmers and market women.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony on Monday, Plant Director, Obajana Plant, Engr. Azad Nawabuddin, said the scheme was part of the company’s commitment to implementing the provisions of the Community Development Agreement (CDA).

Represented by the Head of Social Performance at the Obajana Plant, Prince Ademola Adeyemi, he said the empowerment programme benefited students, farmers and market women.

Engr. Nawabuddin said the programme, which focused on students, farmers and market women, underscores DCP’s continued commitment to sustainable community development, poverty reduction and economic empowerment across its host communities.

He said a total of twenty beneficiaries drawn from several tertiary institutions and sixty beneficiaries from secondary schools received educational grants running into several millions of naira.

He disclosed that 20 farmers were provided with essential farming implements and funds, noting that the initiative is designed to enhance agricultural productivity, encourage the adoption of improved farming practices and contribute to greater food security in the community.

Twenty market women were each provided with start-up capital and business support to strengthen their enterprises, promote financial independence and enhance household incomes.

The event attracted several stakeholders, traditional rulers, government representatives, and community leaders including: His Royal Highness, Oba Usman Adoga Ajibola, the Obaro of Jakura., Representative of the Olu of Oworo, Chief K.A Mahmood, (The Obalumema of Oworo Land), Engr. E.O. Olaitan, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), Mrs. A. O. Onimode, Kogi State Ministry of Solid Mineral and Natural Resources, youth and women groups, members of Jakura traditional council, among others.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Jakura CDA Committee, Chief Bonibade Ajiboye, appreciated Dangote Cement Plc Obajana Plant for keeping to commitments noting that aside the empowerment programme, the electrification project is almost completed.

He commended the Plant for the kind gesture towards Jakura community despite the security challenge. Goodwill messages were brought to the event by members of Jakura traditional council, Oworo traditional council, Federal and State representatives with all commending and joining Jakura community to express appreciation to Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant.

In his remarks, His Royal Highness, Oba Usman Adoga Ajibola, the Obaro of Jakura, expressed gratitude to Almighty God for blessing Jakura with abundant mineral resources and commended **Alhaji Aliko Dangote** for choosing to invest in the area.

The royal father also lauded Dangote Cement Plc for its numerous developmental interventions in the community, describing the latest empowerment initiative as another demonstration of the company’s commitment to improving the welfare and livelihoods of its host communities.

He pledged that the community would ensure the sustainability of the projects and see to it that the beneficiaries put their respective benefits to good use.

He prayed for Allah’s continued blessings upon Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his generosity, philanthropy and contributions to humanity.

The Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to leveraging media collaboration as a critical tool for crime deterrence and public education. He stated this in Kano on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 while receiving the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matashiya TV, an online television platform, on a courtesy visit to his office.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Ebelo emphasized that the media remains a core stakeholder in the EFCC’s mandate to investigate, prevent, and prosecute economic and financial crimes. He noted that the Commission’s vision is to achieve a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes, a goal that cannot be realized without the active partnership of the media.
“Whatever we do, if it is not properly reported to the populace in the form of education and crime deterrence, we will not be able to go further. The media is a core partner in progress. From the beginning, our Public Affairs Department has coordinated the media angle of our operations, and it is on this premise that we seek to further reaffirm our support and partnership.”

The Zonal Director highlighted that the EFCC’s mandate covers a broad spectrum of offences, including cybercrime, fraud, money laundering, public sector corruption, and economic sabotage. He stressed that publicizing these efforts is essential to deterring potential offenders and enlightening the public, particularly the youth.

In his remarks, the Chairman/CEO of Matashiya TV, Abubakar Murtala Ibrahim expressed the platform’s desire to establish a working and sustainable relationship with the Commission. He noted that Matashiya TV focuses on journalism, community development, and youth empowerment, having trained over 3,000 youths in various professional skills.

He explained that the platform has designed programs specifically aimed at enlightening the youth to steer them away from cybercrime and violence. “We have ideas and programs to enlighten the people, especially the youth, because we believe this will reduce their engagement in cybercrime and related violence,” the CEO stated, soliciting the EFCC’s partnership in this regard.

The visit concluded with both parties agreeing to foster a robust working relationship to advance the fight against economic and financial crimes in Kano and beyond.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Vice President, Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to lead a nutrition-focused peer exchange mission.

Shettima is attending the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit at the invitation of Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh.

According to a statement released by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the visit will enable both nations to share strategies on establishing a combined federal, state, and local compact for effective nutrition delivery.

According to the statement, during the visit, the Nigerian delegation will study Ethiopia’s government-led, multi-sectoral approach to food security and tour several key sites, including: A wheat farm and banana plantation in Oromia, The ‘Bounty of the Basket’ Training Centre and community household initiatives in Mojo, and Jabdu Motors in Bishoftu.”

“The Vice President’s entourage includes Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Umar Namadi of Jigawa State; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; and Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar Abubakar,” it added.