CSR: Dangote Granite Mines offers scholarships to 60 students in host communities

*Dangote Granite Mines, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, located in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State of Nigeria, at the weekend awarded scholarships to 60 students in the host communities learning in various schools across the country, assuring exemplary beneficiaries of automatic employment after their education

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Dangote Granite Mines, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, located in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, in the South-West, amid an atmosphere of excitement at the weekend, awarded multi-million Naira scholarships to 60 students in the host communities across various schools in the country as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

ConsumerConnect reports the conglomerate disclosed the awards are aimed at fostering educational development in its host communities in Nigeria.

Automatic employment for beneficiaries

Aside from the scholarships, Dangote Granite Mines also assured the beneficiaries of the programme of automatic employment should they excel in their studies.

L-R: Miss Ladi Michael, Student of Sopen Comprehensive High School, Ati Basiri, Ijebu-Igbo, in Ogun State, Receiving Her Award Cheque

The Management of the company further said the scholarship was in furtherance of its efforts at ensuring that its host communities were not left behind in terms of development, especially in the areas of education and infrastructure.

According to the company, education is one of the key areas of focus for development in the West African country.

Scholarship awards selection process

Dangote Granite Mines stated that the beneficiaries of the scholarship awards were drawn from the five host communities in which the company operates.

It further noted the host communities include Ajebandele; Olorunmodi Ademowo; Saliu Baba Risi; Idi-Omo and Ijebu-Igbo township, all in Ogun State.

The company said: “The scholarship covers both secondary and higher institution students.”

Speaking at the event, Mr. Ebenezer Fola Ali, Director of Human Assets Management, Dangote Projects, who handed over the cheques to each of the awardees, explained that the scholarships are meant to help the parents of the beneficiaries to lessen the burden their children’s education on them.

Ali stated that the scholarship awards are part of the agreement reached with the leadership of the host communities during the signing of the Community Development Agreement (CDA).

The Director of Human Assets Management, Dangote Projects urged the beneficiaries to face their education, as they will be given automatic employment as they do well academically.

While also presenting the signed CDA to the Ijebu Igbo monarch, the Sopenlukale of Oke Sopen, Oba Muftau Adesesan Yussuf, Mr. Ali equally thanked the monarch and the communities’ leaders for creating an atmosphere of peace in the area and for showing the understanding.

The enabling environment has led to the tranquillity the company and the communities have been enjoying.

He assured the communities of the  readiness of Dangote Granite Mines to do its own part of the agreement and ensure it identifies with the people at all times.

The Director of Human Assets Management, Dangote Projects, also promised that the Management of the company would implement the CDA to the letter.

Appeal for continued support and peaceful environment

For sustainability, Ali also charged the communities leaders to continue to support the Management of Dangote Granite Mines by maintaining peace in their communities.

Likewise, he charged the beneficiaries of the scholarship awards not to let the company and their parents down by engaging in activities that could derail their education.

The Dangote top official further encouraged the beneficiaries to justify their choice as recipients of the awards by excelling in their different fields of study in order to spur the Management of the company to do more.

Dangote deserves supports of host communities -Monarch

In his remark on the occasion, the Sopenlukale, Oba Yussuf thanked the Management of Dangote Group for the assistance to the communities.

The traditional ruler pointed out that the award of the scholarships indicated that the company is community-friendly and committed to giving back to the society.

Hence, “it deserves all the supports the communities can muster,” stated Oba Yussuf.

The monarch urged his people not to take the scholarship awards and other projects that the Dangote Management is doing for the communities for granted.

He said they should be seen as a show of love for the host communities because “let no one harbour the misconception that Dangote is doing the mining her free.

“It’s not like that; the company is paying the government, both the state and the Federal, what they are doing for us is an act of love and magnanimity.”

He told the people to continue to maintain peace as it is only when there is peace that the company can help the communities more.

Appreciating the company for the awards, Miss Aregbe Grace Oluwadamilola of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), one of the beneficiaries, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the Management of Dangote Granite Mines for the good gesture.

The student said the scholarships would go a long way in lessening the financial hardship they will encounter in school.

Miss Aregbe promised that the beneficiaries would not let down the company and their parents.

She also prayed for the well-being of Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the company.

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