Dangote creates 30 entrepreneurs

Dangote creates 30 entrepreneurs

By: Femi Mustapha

The Dangote Cement Plc has announced the creation of 30 new entrepreneurs who are expected to help bolster food production and ginger the Nigerian economy.

The new Chief Executives graduated the weekend following a three-month intensive entrepreneurial and skill acquisition training on poultry farming and business.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu advocated for Public Private Partnership during his speech at the recent Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Plant Director of the Dangote Cement Plc at Obajana in Kogi State, Mr. JV Gungune, said the company’s entrepreneurial scheme is a demonstration of the huge corporate support for the government and Nigeria.

The Plant Director, who was represented by Engr Wale Adisa, a Senior General Manager, said the President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is one Nigerian who is passionate about Corporate Social Responsibility and philanthropy.

Mr. Gungune told the beneficiaries to leverage the advantage conferred on them by the scheme, adding that it was a golden opportunity to be selected, trained, and empowered. He said the scheme has become necessary as the company couldn’t employ everyone.

He said the development was a result of the peaceful co-existence between the company and the communities, harping on the need for the youth to become skilled, and that the era of certificates was gone.

Representative of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in Kogi State, Engr Ezekiel Olufemi Olaitan, said the government was happy with the series of economic and social activities and opportunities created by the Dangote Cement Plc, urging the beneficiaries not to disappoint Nigerians.

In his welcome address, General Manager of Community Relations and Special Duties, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, said the scheme was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), adding that, of the 30 participants, 18 were females and 12 were males. He said the training was conducted by the Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba, on behalf of Dangote Cement Plc.

According to him: “The Dangote Cement PLC, Obajana Plant Empowerment Scheme among many others is aimed at transforming the youth to be skillful, self-reliant, and independent. This year 2023 Youth Empowerment Scheme was particularly designed to develop selected youth from each community to be not just farmers in poultry (layer: egg) producers but Entrepreneurs in Agricultural Business.

“The program is equally aimed at eradicating some of the social vices and poverty that have eaten deep into our communities.”

Representative of the Provost of the Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba, Dr. Micheal Udoma said the Dangote Cement Plc had empowered the beneficiaries with starter packs, Bags of Grower feed, battery cages, hand gloves, a 60-litre basin, a hand bowl, and point of lay birds.

Head of the Dangote Academy, Engr Wale Adedeji advised the new entrepreneurs not to rest on their oars but keep reinvesting and profit, saying they can learn from the founder of the company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Speaking, the Bajana of Obajana, Dr. Idowu Isenibi, expressed optimism that the program will help radically transform the economy of the Obajana communities and Kogi State in general. In the same vein, the Olu-Apata Dr. Frederick Balogun thanked the company for the program and urged participants to keep investing in the business.

Representative of the graduands, Mr. Alolo Victor Eleojo said they have registered a Cooperative Society to help buoy their financial standing. “As new CEOs, we have formed a cooperative and do the necessary registrations,” he added. He promised not to disappoint the Dangote Group and Nigerians as a whole.

Earlier in the course of the program, starter packs comprising medications, vitamins, cages, feeds, 50 layers, and poultry farm equipment were given to each of the 30 graduands.