The Dangote Cement Plant in Ibese, Ogun State, has once again earned resounding praise for its steadfast commitment to community development and social responsibility, as it successfully concluded the 2024 edition of its Youth Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Programme over the weekend.
The event, which featured the graduation and empowerment of 30 youths from 17 host communities, drew commendation from government officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders.
Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development and other dignitaries gathered at the graduation ceremony to celebrate the company’s diligent implementation of its Community Development Agreement (CDA).
The South-West Zonal Coordinator of Mines Environment Compliance, Mr Mathew Ochimana, speaking through a ministry official, expressed his delight at the peaceful and productive relationship between the company and its host communities.
“We have never had to mediate any dispute between Dangote Cement and the communities here.
“Instead, we are regularly invited to events like this—programmes that uplift people and build the local economy,” Ochimana said.
He lauded the Ibese Plant’s consistent delivery of empowerment initiatives that enhance livelihoods and strengthen community bonds.
Ochimana also urged both the company and community members to continue nurturing their mutual relationship for sustained growth.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Host Communities Joint Consultative Committee, Dayo Ogunyinka, offered heartfelt appreciation to Dangote Cement for its unwavering commitment to social development.
“Dangote Cement Ibese Plant doesn’t just train our youths—they equip them with the tools they need to succeed.
“We’ve seen graduates in various vocations such as electrical electronics, shoemaking, acupuncture, and now painting and Plaster of Paris (PoP). The impact is tangible,” Ogunyinka stated.
He, however, lamented that some youths failed to take advantage of the programme, calling on them to seize future opportunities to build better lives.
“We are blessed to have this plant in our midst. It takes care of our youths, women, elders, and farmers. Not every community is this fortunate,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Roy Uttam, Director of the Dangote Cement Ibese Plant, emphasised that the empowerment programme was a collaborative initiative between Dangote Cement and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Abeokuta Area Office.
“This programme demonstrates our ongoing dedication to social responsibility, with a strategic focus on Health, Education, Infrastructure, and Empowerment,” Uttam said.
He noted that Dangote Academy and other training initiatives have created job opportunities and equipped numerous young Nigerians with relevant skills.
With Nigeria’s economic challenges in mind, Uttam encouraged youths to pursue vocational skills as viable career paths.
“Our objective is to empower local communities and help them become self-sustaining. Today, we’re proud to graduate 30 youths trained in PoP, screeding, and painting. They’ve shown perseverance and commitment,” Uttam stated.
Each participant was awarded a certificate of completion, along with a start-up kit containing essential tools such as trowels, measuring tapes, and shovels—an investment meant to jumpstart their careers immediately.
Reinforcing the message of self-reliance, ITF Abeokuta Area Manager, Mrs Abolanle Ajibade, celebrated the successful conclusion of the training programme.
She praised the partnership between ITF and Dangote Cement, describing it as an impactful collaboration that delivered more than just knowledge.
“This wasn’t just skills training. It was a transformative experience that pushed boundaries and created new possibilities.
“Our facilitators gave their all, and the participants responded with dedication and drive,” Ajibade said.
Local government authorities were also present to encourage the graduates.
Chairman of Yewa North Local Government, Dr Akinbode Olusola, drew from personal experience to highlight the value of vocational training.
“Photography changed my life. It helped me fund my education when my family couldn’t afford it. This training you’ve received today could be your turning point, too. Make it count,” Olusola advised the graduates.
Adding his voice, Mr Ademola Ojolowo, Group Head of Social Performance at Dangote Cement, underscored the importance of the tools distributed to the trainees.
He explained that these starter packs symbolised more than just equipment—they represented the trust and hope placed in the youths to build a better future for themselves and their communities.
“This programme is not just a box-ticking exercise. It’s part of a broader mission to develop human capital and foster economic self-sufficiency in Nigeria,” Ojolowo said.
He noted that apart from the skills training, Dangote Cement also offers annual scholarships to 120 brilliant but underprivileged students and has systems in place to maintain continuous engagement with the youth.
At the close of the event, the Plant Director, flanked by other dignitaries, personally handed out certificates and tools to the 30 graduates, marking their official entry into the world of skilled entrepreneurship.
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