Dangote Cement's Ibese Plant has received high praise from the Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Mr Dele Alake, for its significant contributions to host community development, particularly through its robust social investments and empowerment programs.
These initiatives, according to the Minister, are playing a crucial role in fostering economic development and social cohesion within the communities.
Speaking through Mr Mathew Ochimana, the Mines and Environment Compliance Officer for the South West in the Ministry, during the 2025 Farmers Empowerment Programme and handover of farm inputs to Ibese Host Communities’ Farmers, Alake lauded Dangote Cement's Corporate Social Responsibility efforts.
He highlighted how these programs have successfully stimulated local economies, created jobs, supported local businesses, and significantly enhanced community infrastructure.
Mr Ochimana implored the beneficiary farmers to maximise the use of the donated farm inputs to boost food production.
He issued a stern warning against selling the items, emphasising that such actions would undermine the program's objectives and hinder efforts to achieve greater food security within the communities.
Earlier in the event, Ayyagari Subbaraidu, the Plant Director of Dangote Cement, Ibese, reaffirmed the company's unwavering commitment to empowering farmers, recognising them as a vital segment of the population.
He emphasised that the provision of farming inputs is designed to boost food production and enhance agricultural productivity.
"We provide modern farm inputs to help farmers enhance their productivity, enabling them to consistently cultivate both subsistence and cash crops at a commercial scale," Subbaraidu explained.
"These inputs are donated to support better yields and offer a more modern, efficient farming experience," he added.
Beyond the "Planting to Profit: Good Agricultural Practices for Cassava and Maize" themed empowerment program for farmers, the Plant Director underscored Dangote Cement's broader commitment to creating positive impacts within its host communities.
He stated that the company prioritises health, quality education, empowerment initiatives, and the provision of critical infrastructure to drive socio-economic development.
"With the support of our stakeholders, some of whom are also here, we have achieved remarkable milestones, demonstrating that every limestone mined and every bag of cement manufactured comes with proportionate social value addition and support to the host communities," Subbaraidu remarked.
He further highlighted that in the course of implementing the current Community Development Agreement, signed in 2022, 240 farmers across their host communities have already benefited from training, farm inputs, and tools, adding that this has contributed to the cultivation of over 600 acres of farmland and significantly boosted the local economy.
To underscore Dangote Cement's dedication to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of farmers for enhanced food security and increased revenue across the agricultural value chain, Subbaraidu detailed the specific items each beneficiary would receive: three 50kg bags of NPK fertilizer, two bags of Urea fertilizer, three liters of Force-Up herbicide, one raincoat, and one pair of rain boots.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to all community stakeholders, "We say a big thank you for your invaluable collaboration in creating an enabling environment for our business to thrive.
Indeed, it takes strong partnerships between the Plant and the communities to achieve socio-economic progress."
The Chairman of Yewa South Local Government, Olusola Akinbode, also commended Dangote Cement for its consistent support and expressed satisfaction with the company's timely intervention and commitment to community development.
He noted that the farmers' empowerment program perfectly aligns with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun's drive to ensure food security within the state.
"One of our targets is to ensure food sufficiency in the state; we did our own farmers’ empowerment in June and we distributed 11,000 cash crops. We are promising to increase the number to at least 60,000 in 2026.
"Imagine if we have this and Dangote is supporting us with fertiliser and other farm tools, very soon, Yewa will become a food basket to others," Akinbode stated.
Dayo Ogunyinka, Chairman of the Community Joint Consultative Committee (CJCC), expressed his satisfaction with the program, now in its fourth edition, describing it as "very impactful" and a "perfect intervention towards food security and economic growth."
He extended his thanks to Dangote Cement for reaching out to the grassroots, whom he described as the "centre of community development."
Beneficiaries of the program shared their appreciation. Iyabo Akintan from Ijako Orile host community thanked the company for consistently supporting local farmers.
She believes the initiative "will bring upliftment and a better farming experience with gains to the society."
Another beneficiary, Olaleye Adekunle, described the gesture as "soothing and morale-boosting" for farmers.
"With the provision of fertilisers and other farm tools, working during rain and shine is now a possibility, and we are really grateful that Dangote Cement, Ibese, has our interest at heart," Adekunle remarked.
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