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Dangote launches a circular economy programme, trains traders on financial literacy

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Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe; Head, Sustainability, Dangote Cement, Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba; Technical Director, Dangote Cement, Duraisamy Anandam; and General Manager, Regional Sales, Dangote Cement, Johnson Olaniyi at the 2022 Dangote Sustainability Week event tagged “Yaba Green Challenge”, in Lagos recently.

Dangote Cement has launched a circular economy programme, called “DangCircular”. The new initiative aims to promote recycling and reuse of scarce resources in society to reduce landfilling and create wealth as a contribution to environmental sustainability.

DangCircular was rolled out during this year’s Dangote Sustainability Week, targeting students of Nigerian higher institutions. The company partnered with the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, and UNESCO-UNEVOC (UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in a competition tagged ‘Yaba Green Challenge’.

Dangote employee Volunteers and Executives graced the finale of the competition to witness the presentation of 10 sustainability innovations the students created from waste after a screening of over 30 entries.

Among the panel of judges were the academic staff of Yabatech, officials, and UNESCO UNEVOC, as well Dangote Cement Technical Director Mr. Duraisamy Anandam and General Manager Regional Sales, Mr. Johnson Olaniyi. The judges engaged finalists on their projects which include: 1) Mixed media painting from sawdust 2) Fungal growth medium from industrial wheat waste 3) Medicinal mushrooms from sawdust and water hyacinth. Others were mycelia blocks from spent mushroom substrate.

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Wearable art from the aluminum beverage can pull tab wastes, and sculpture from metal scraps. The students also made a paving interlocking block project with plastics, Hollow sandcrete blocks from plastics, and a mixed media painting made with waste plastics and paper, as well as animal feed produced from water hyacinth.

The event began with a tour of the Yabatech museum, a courtesy visit to the College Rector, and a donation of waste segregation bins made to the management of the school. At the finale of the Yaba Green Challenge competition which had over 300 staff and students, the Rector of the College Engr Obafemi Omokungbe endorsed the initiative, describing the partnership between Yabatech and Dangote as a very strategic and exciting one. He stated that “talks are ongoing to obtain patent rights for the innovations showcased at the event to share with the private sector for adoption”.

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Leading the Dangote delegation was General Manager Sustainability, Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba expressed satisfaction at the exhibition. In her remarks, she stated that “the goal of DangCircular was to spur Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy and support wealth creation through waste.” She also encouraged the institution to carry out cutting-edge research for the economic growth of society.

The winner of the grand prize of the competition was Ms. Ajide Comfort of the Fashion Design Department. In a very emotional reaction, Ms. Comfort whose project was Wearable art from an aluminum beverage can pull-tab waste, expressed her gratitude to Dangote Cement and pledged to continue finding ways to integrate waste recycling in her designs.

In the same vein, the company implemented “The Obalende Smart Money Campaign”, a financial literacy awareness campaign, to help over 300 traders of the Obada Obalende market to gain insight into managing money and limited resources sustainably. The initiative was part of activities to mark Sustainability Week in Nigeria and Pan Africa.

Speaking on the financial literacy campaign, the Lead, Health, and Safety Mr. James Adenuga said the theme of the yearly programme: ‘People, Planet and Profit – The Dangote Way’ is driven by employee volunteers. In his remarks, he explained to the traders the meaning of sustainable development and why it was a topic of concern for traders. Sighting examples with relatable stories, the Head of Sustainability, Dr. Okoroba explained that “While seeking for their daily bread, it was important that the traders ensure that the needs of the present and future generations are not threatened by poor treatment of land, water, and natural resources available to us”.

Diversity and inclusion were other aspects Dangote Cement sought to make an impact on society during Sustainability Week as the Dangote volunteers engaged in a charity outreach targeting the Down syndrome community and the visually impaired. The campaign for the visually impaired was to commemorate White Cane Safety day, an annual event celebrated worldwide every 15th of October.

The Dangote volunteers visited the Women and Children with Disability Initiative (WCWDI) home for visually impaired children, interacting with the children. The company made donations of food items, beverages, and specialized educational materials for the blind including white canes, slates, and marbouqs. Following this, the team of volunteers conducted a sensitization walk of the neighbouring community to enlighten residents on the white cane as a right of passage for the visually impaired which should be respected.

In another outreach to the Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN) located at Iju Fagba, Lagos, the Volunteers toured the vocational centres where persons with Down syndrome were trained in life skills. The National President of the Downs syndrome Association, Mrs. Rose Mordi, noted that ‘Down syndrome is not a disease but a condition which can happen to anyone”. She also gave insight on the theme of Down Syndrome Awareness Month – “Nothing About Us Without Us”, acknowledging Dangote’s support and calling for other private sectors to follow in the same vein.

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Nigeria’s GDP Growth, Drop in Inflation Not Translating into Poverty Reduction – BUK Deputy VC

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The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni, has said that Nigeria’s recent economic growth and decline in inflation have yet to translate into a meaningful reduction in poverty among citizens.

Professor Tsauni, an economist, made this observation during a gathering organised by the Non-Formal Development for Education and Health Initiative, with the theme, “Nigeria at a Crossroad: Who Is to Fix It?”

He said that although Nigeria had recorded some level of growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and improvements in certain economic indicators, the development had not significantly improved the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, the country continues to grapple with complex economic and social challenges that require collective efforts and practical solutions to overcome.

“We want to show that Nigeria is a country that, in spite of its challenges, has complex problems that will not really allow it to address them easily. Recently, we have been experiencing some level of growth in GDP, but those indices are not translating into a reduction in poverty, and so we are at a crossroads,” he said.

The BUK Deputy Vice-Chancellor explained that addressing the country’s challenges required more than government interventions, stressing that every Nigerian had a responsibility to contribute to rebuilding the country.

He maintained that the responsibility of finding solutions to Nigeria’s problems should not be left to individuals, political leaders or organisations alone, but should involve citizens from all sectors of society.

Professor Tsauni also called on the government to formulate and implement pragmatic policies capable of addressing the country’s challenges, while emphasising the importance of building public trust.

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He, however, identified negative societal attitudes and a lack of commitment to national development as some of the major obstacles preventing Nigeria from achieving the desired results from its policies.

According to him, Nigeria has developed several sound policies over the years, but poor attitudes and the failure of citizens to demonstrate the necessary commitment have continued to undermine their implementation.

“We have beautiful policies in Nigeria, but they cannot work because of our attitude. We should not apportion blame to anybody because we created the problem together, so everybody should contribute,” he said.

The university don urged Nigerians across different professions and institutions to examine their conduct and take responsibility for improving the country.

He specifically noted that classroom teachers, judges, public servants and other professionals must reflect on their individual responsibilities, adding that positive changes in societal attitudes were essential to national development.

Professor Tsauni further stressed that Nigeria’s current situation required collective reflection and a change in citizens’ approach to public responsibilities rather than continuous blame-shifting.

Earlier, the Technical Lead of the Non-Formal Development for Education and Health Initiative, Dr Auwal Halilu, called on Nigerians to demonstrate patriotism and contribute towards revitalising the country.

Dr Halilu said Nigeria was facing numerous challenges as the country approached the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for citizens to reflect on how to secure the country’s future through responsible participation in the electoral process.

He urged Nigerians to embrace positive values, transparency and accountability, noting that national development could only be achieved when citizens and leaders demonstrated genuine commitment to the country’s progress.

“We should take into consideration that we are going to revitalise this country. Every Nigerian should be patriotic. There are a lot of challenges in Nigeria as we approach the 2027 elections. How can we help to get the best in Nigeria? We should change our values for good and be transparent,” he said.

Dr Halilu also challenged Nigerians to consider how they could support leaders in addressing the country’s challenges, rather than leaving the responsibility of national development entirely to those in government.

He emphasised that rebuilding Nigeria required a collective commitment to good values, transparency and patriotism, particularly as the country prepares for another general election in 2027.

The gathering provided an opportunity for discussions on Nigeria’s economic and social challenges, the responsibilities of citizens and the need for collective action towards national development.

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Dala Chairman Marks Two Years In Office With Prayers For Peace,Leaders

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By Abdu Saidu

The Chairman of Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, Hon. Suraj Ibrahim Imam, has marked his second anniversary in office with a special prayer session for peace, stability and good governance in Dala, Kano State and Nigeria at large.

The prayer session, held on Saturday at the local government secretariat, featured the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by about 60 Islamic scholars and Qur’anic memorizers drawn from different parts of the council area.

The participants offered prayers for divine guidance, wisdom and success for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of the National Assembly and the Kano State House of Assembly, as well as other political leaders.

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Speaking at the event, Imam said the prayer session was organised to express gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve the people of Dala for two years and to seek His continued guidance and blessings for the council, the state and the country.

He added that the gathering was also an opportunity to pray for the success of Governor Yusuf and other political leaders in their future political engagements.

On his administration’s performance, the chairman disclosed that several development projects had been executed across the 12 wards of Dala Local Government Area within the past two years, with the support and approval of Governor Yusuf.

He commended the governor for his development initiatives across the state’s 44 local government areas, particularly in healthcare, education, security, road construction, potable water supply, agriculture and employment generation.

According to Imam, the interventions have contributed to improving the living conditions of residents and strengthening development at the grassroots.

He expressed confidence in the governor’s leadership and called on residents and political stakeholders to support his re-election in 2027. He also expressed support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the next general elections.

The event was attended by Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim Al-Mustapha, OON, councillors, Islamic scholars, Qur’anic memorizers, political advisers, the local government secretary and other stakeholders from across Dala Local Government Area.

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NNPC Confirms Gas Supply & Network Availability

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NNPC Limited confirms that gas transportation network operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), remains available to support deliveries to power generating stations Nationwide without any constraints. NGIC’s operational records do not indicate transportation-related constraints within its network that explain the current decline in electricity generation.

NNPC Limited is focussed on actualizing the Federal Government’s gas development and monetization agenda which has led to about 10% growth in gas production volumes 2026 year to date. Gas supply availability is therefore not a challenge as NNPC remains committed to supporting efforts to improve electricity generation through safe, reliable and efficient gas supply and transportation.

This clarification follows the Nigerian Independent System Operator’s (NISO) statement of 5 November 2026, which cited limited gas availability and reduced water inflows to hydroelectric stations as causes of lower generation. NNPC Limited’s clarification concerns the operational status of NGIC’s transportation network. Gas production, commercial supply arrangements and actual deliveries to individual power plants must be assessed separately from the availability of transportation infrastructure.

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A comprehensive assessment must also consider the availability and operational readiness of generating units, plant maintenance schedules and actual gas offtake. These factors determine whether gas supplied can be converted into electricity. They should be verified alongside gas supply data to establish the causes of the shortfall.

NNPC Limited supports a coordinated review of operational data by gas suppliers, transporters, power generators and NISO to identify specific constraints and guide effective interventions. Accurate reporting across the gas-to-power value chain is essential to resolving the challenges and sustaining public confidence.

Our focus remains on dependable energy infrastructure and constructive collaboration that helps translate Nigeria’s gas resources into more reliable electricity for Nigerians.

Andy Odeh
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Limited
Abuja

6 November 2026

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