Connect with us

News

Dangote Cement Gboko Rolls Out Multi-Million Naira Empowerment Programmes For Six Benue Host Communities

Published

2 months ago

on

:Symbolic presentation of farm inputs to beneficiaries as Dangote cement plant Gboko flagged off series of multi million naira empowerment programmes for its host communities in Gboko, Benue State... Wednesday

 

There were celebrations on Wednesday as Dangote Cement Plc flagged off three multi-million-naira empowerment programmes for farmers, women and youths in its six host communities in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

Women sang and danced, farmers applauded and youth groups cheered as the company announced a new round of support aimed at helping beneficiaries expand their businesses, improve agricultural productivity and acquire vocational skills.

The programme will benefit residents of Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur and Pass Brothers communities in Benue State.

Under the scheme, 150 women will receive cash grants to support their businesses, 52 farmers will be provided with agricultural inputs, and 30 young people will undergo skills development training.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, commended the Dangote Group for the new feat, and sustained investments in the development of its host communities.

Represented at the event by Mrs. Usman Adijatu, the minister said the Federal Government is proud of the significant social and economic contributions of Dangote Cement Plc in Benue State and across Nigeria.

He noted that the company’s community-focused interventions complement the government’s efforts to promote inclusive growth, reduce poverty and create sustainable livelihoods in mining and industrial host communities.
Dr. Alake urged the beneficiaries to make prudent and productive use of the agricultural inputs, cash grants and vocational training opportunities provided by Dangote Cement, stressing that the support should serve as a springboard for long-term economic empowerment and self-reliance.

Also speaking, the Head of Social Performance, Pan-African Operations, at Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to implementing Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, developed jointly by the company, government and host communities under the Community Development Agreement(CDA)framework.

Advert

He described the six host communities as peaceful and supportive, and urged them to sustain the harmonious relationship that has enabled the successful implementation of numerous development programmes.

Mr. Olayiwola also commended members of the CDA Consultative Committee for conducting a transparent and credible beneficiary selection process, noting that their diligence had helped ensure that the interventions reached deserving members of the communities.

The Plant Director of Dangote Cement, Gboko Plant, Engr. Abhijit Dutta, said the initiative is part of the company’s efforts to improve livelihoods in communities where it operates.

He said the company sees its host communities as partners and believes business growth should go hand in hand with community development.

“Our host communities are not just neighbours; they are valued partners in progress,” he said.

Mr. Dutta said the programme is part of a five-year Community Development Agreement (CDA) that began in 2025 and is intended to ensure that all six communities benefit from the company’s social investment programmes.

He said the interventions were designed to promote self-reliance, reduce poverty and create sustainable economic opportunities.

According to him, the company will also launch a scholarship scheme for students from the host communities in the coming months.

Mr. Dutta said the President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, is committed to improving the welfare of communities hosting the Group’s operations.

He noted that more than 230 people benefitted from similar programmes last year and said the company plans to continue the initiative throughout the duration of the current CDA.

Mr. Dutta also said several projects under the agreement are already in progress and that all outstanding projects are expected to be completed this year.

He urged beneficiaries to use the support responsibly, especially the women receiving cash grants, and to invest the funds in their businesses.

The company thanked community leaders, traditional rulers and youth groups for maintaining peaceful relations with the plant, saying continued cooperation would help sustain development and shared prosperity in the area.

The Head of Social Performance at Dangote Cement Plc, Dr. Johnson Kor, said the company operates a broad range of community development and empowerment initiatives designed to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of its host communities.

Also speaking at the event, the paramount ruler of the Gboko communities, the Ter Gboko, HRH Gabriel Shosum, praised Dangote Cement for its sustained commitment to the welfare and development of his people, describing the company’s interventions as both impactful and commendable.

He assured the company of the continued goodwill and cooperation of the host communities, noting that they would remain strong ambassadors of Dangote Cement.

The royal father also urged community members to maintain peace and continue supporting the company so that they can derive even greater benefits from its social investment initiatives.

The company had said earlier that the selected youths will be trained by the Industrial Training Fund(ITF).

Related Topics:

News

Kano Lecturers Forum Honours Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf with Education Reform Award

Published

15 minutes ago

on

July 23, 2026

By

 

The Kano Lecturers Forum has honoured the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, with an Award of Excellence for Educational Transformation in recognition of his administration’s commitment to revitalising the education sector in the state.

The award was presented during the Kano State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.

Presenting the award, the Chairman of the Kano Lecturers Forum, Dr. Abdulkadir Abdulkadir Sufi, said the recognition was in appreciation of Governor Yusuf’s unwavering dedication and the remarkable achievements recorded by his administration in improving education across Kano State.

According to Dr. Sufi, one of the administration’s landmark decisions was the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector, a move aimed at addressing longstanding challenges and restoring the quality of education in the state.

Advert

He noted that the government has undertaken the construction and renovation of schools, recruited additional teachers, increased funding for tertiary institutions, provided teaching and learning materials, and expanded investment in technical and vocational education to equip young people with relevant skills.

The Forum also commended the state government for settling outstanding tuition fees and scholarship obligations owed to Kano indigenes studying in Nigerian and foreign institutions. It further praised the administration for extending support to indigent students whose education in private universities had previously been sponsored by past governments.

In addition, the lecturers acknowledged the government’s decision to sponsor outstanding first-class graduates from Kano State to pursue postgraduate studies in India and Uganda, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in the development of highly skilled human capital.

On staff welfare, the Forum applauded Governor Yusuf’s administration for paying earned allowances to academic staff in state-owned universities, as well as introducing special allowances for lecturers in state-owned colleges. It said the measures have boosted staff morale, improved the welfare of lecturers, and contributed to industrial harmony across tertiary institutions in the state.

The Kano Lecturers Forum stated that these achievements demonstrate Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s visionary leadership and his commitment to making education the cornerstone of Kano State’s development. It added that the administration’s reforms reflect a clear determination to transform the education sector for the benefit of present and future generations of Kano residents.

Continue Reading

News

Abuja Federal High Court Sentences Three Suspects in Oyo Abduction to Life Imprisonment

Published

1 hour ago

on

July 23, 2026

By

 

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects to life imprisonment for their roles in the Oriire kidnapping case after finding them guilty of concealing information about the masterminds of the abduction.

The convicts had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges filed against them by the Federal Government, admitting their involvement during the court proceedings.

Advert

The court convicted them after they confessed to withholding information about those behind the kidnapping in Oriire, Oyo State.

The three defendants pleaded guilty before Justice Salem Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja to concealing information about the masterminds of the Oriire school kidnapping in Oyo State.

They also admitted being members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru.

In addition, the first and third defendants, Abdulrazak Umar and Shamsudin Adamu, pleaded guilty to providing training and instructions as well as inciting members of their WhatsApp group, “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” to engage in acts of terrorism.

Continue Reading

News

Breaking: President Tinubu Approves Establishment of Four New Divisions of the Nigerian Army, Bringing the Total to 12

Published

5 hours ago

on

July 23, 2026

By

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.

This approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.

The expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.

Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:

Advert

1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)
2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)
3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)
4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)
5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)
6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)
7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)
8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)
9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)
10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)
11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)
12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).

The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.

Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.

President Tinubu commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga Special adviser to the President on informational and strategy said the President reaffirmed his Administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.

 

Continue Reading

Trending