Host Communities Laud Aliko Dangote over CSR

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The President of the Dangote groups, Aliko Dangote has continued to receive torrents of acclamation from the communities hosting the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) in Nigeria.

Dangote, who is the continent’s wealthiest person had earlier endowed his Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) with a whopping $1.25billion, with his businesses donating several billions of naira for numerous Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives across Africa.

This was contained in a statement from the Brand and Communications Department of the company, saying several billions of naira have been donated by Dangote to support health, education and environment in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.

The host communities in the northern states of Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa and Adamawa, thumbed up DIL for what they described as significant interventions in their communities.

A catalogue of the CSR schemes in the coal mining communities of Benue showed that at the Effeche Akpali community, the company had completed several projects as contained in the Community Development Agreement (CDA).

The CDA signed by the company and host communities’ had helped accelerated the provision of infrastructural development around the host communities, the statement added.

Penultimate week, the Dangote Coal Mines donated multi-million naira in health and educational facilities to the coal mining communities of Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi.

The newly inaugurated facilities are located in the host communities of Awo Akpali and Awo Ojuwo in Ankpa Local Government Area.

General Manager, Special Duties, Dangote Mines Limited, Nuhu Elujah, said the projects are contained in the mutually consented CDA. Elujah said the CDA was earlier signed by the Dangote Coal Mines and the host communities.

Reacting, the Chairman of Ankpa Local Government Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Abagwu, thanked the company for the gesture.

The representative of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Samuel Olaetan, commended the management of the company for fulfilling its promises.

He advised the host communities to continue to support the company in the discharge of its CSR schemes.

The Monarch of Ankpa, Onu Ojoku, Alhaji Mohammed Ogbe, represented by his Council Secretary, Alhaji Usman Abu, lauded the efforts of Dangote Group for ensuring that the agreement signed by both parties came to fruition.

The National Chairman, Awo Community Development Association, Robert Agagwu, appreciated Dangote for the timely completion and delivery of the projects.

Only recently, the Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant commissioned a water project, even as it laid the foundation of a block of classrooms for secondary students.

Speaking at the event, the Baalo of Oyo, Oba Solomon Obahawu, said he was satisfied with the pace of infrastructural development in his community.

President and Chief Executive of the DIL, Aliko Dangote had announced that the company was doubling its scholarship and empowerment schemes in its host communities.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Hama Bachama   Dr. Daniel Shaga Ismail, described Dangote as God sent, and pledged that his people will continue to support the company.

He expressed deep appreciation to the President of the Dangote Group for the numerous educational and economic support offered to the host communities and the people of Adamawa State in general.

Representative of the communities, Emir of Tunga, Alhaji Shuaibu Galadima Ibrahim said even though the company’s investment was yet to start yielding profit, compensations have since been being paid and CSR schemes were being implemented to support the communities.