Beneficiaries of the empowerment schemes of the Dangote Cement Plc at Obajana have spoken glowingly about how the social programs of the company have impacted their lives.
Speaking to newsmen at Obajana in Kogi State, Mr. Oluwafisayo Obanla, a beneficiary, who was trained and equipped in poultry farming, expressed gratitude to the company for allowing him to become a qualified poultry farmer.
He said apart from the 50 Point-Of-Lay birds given to him by the company, he has expanded his stock by acquiring 150 broilers, and he now enjoys a steady income through daily egg sales.
According to Mr. Obanla, the Obajana community has undergone a significant transformation, as beneficiaries have also employed members of their families and communities.
In 2023, the company trained 30 youths drawn from the host communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Apata, and Obajana, equipping them with essential vocational skills.
In her reaction, Mrs. Berida Omaleke Ruth, a beneficiary from Apata Community thanked the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for providing her the opportunity to be a poultry farmer.
Mrs. Omaleke disclosed that her quest for employment after graduating from the University had to stop because the new business had provided her with a new lifeline.
She said even with the high turnout of eggs; she could still not meet her customers’ demand.
Similarly, in her response, Mrs. Dupe Sani from the Iwaa Community, who was trained in fashion design expressed to the Dangote Cement for the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong ambition of becoming a fashion designer.
“Since we graduated from the Dangote Cement training program, I have bought four machines, and I have four apprentices under me,” she said.
On her part, Mrs. Bunmi Joseph, from the Oyo Community, lauded Alhaji Aliko Dangote for not only training her but turning her into an entrepreneur.
“Like Dangote, I am also an employer of labour,” she proudly affirmed, while thanking the company for what she said was a rare life opportunity.
About two years ago, the company trained and graduated 40 women in Fashion Design at its cement plant in Obajana, reinforcing its commitment to fostering self-sufficiency and economic empowerment within host communities.
A statement from the spokesman of the conglomerate, Anthony Chiejina, said the Dangote Cement Plc has numerous social programs aimed at supporting host communities.
