IBESE– Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese plant in Yewa North Local Government area of Ogun state has held its year 2025 annual community day celebration.
Speaking at the event held at the cement factory in Ibese, the Plant Director, Ayyagari Subbaraidu stated that the occasion reflects the company’s deliberate and continuous effort to broaden stakeholders engagement and deepen community participation.
Themed, “Sustaining Growth, Strengthening Bonds.”, Subbaraidu said with its consistency, Dangote has shown commitment beyond just producing quality cement to embracing care, inclusion, and partnership with the host communities.
Represented by Chief General Manager, Maintenance, Hemant Dave, he stated that, “The Community Day has become a strategic feature of our annual stakeholder engagement calendar. It provides us the platform to reflect on our social stewardship in the year with the presentation of a comprehensive account of our Corporate Social Investments, which will be shared during this programme.
“This event also presents us the opportunity to bond together, enjoy the richness of our culture, while appreciating our partners and collaborators whose contributions have been invaluable to our progress”, he said
The Head, Social Performance, Ademola Ojolowo while reeling out the company’s 2025 social investment scorecard stated that the range of projects and programs delivered were in line with its thematic focus areas of Education, Health, Infrastructure and Empowerment.
Ojolowo added that key focus was in promoting local vendor participation in accordance with the company’s procurement policy, supporting the establishment of Project Governance Committees within communities to ensure proper utilization, maintenance, and sustainability of the projects
In all, a total of 27 projects were planned for the year, with 15 Civil, 4 electrical, 6 empowerment programs, and 1 Procurement of medical centre items
As at the time of filing this report, 13 projects has been completed, while about 10 ongoing projects are at various stages of completion, while 3 of the planned projects are at procurement levels.
“As a responsible corporate organisation in mining and manufacturing, we commit under the Community Development Agreement to complement government developmental efforts through delivery of social and economic benefits to our community stakeholders.
“We remain committed to enhancing project efficiency, ensuring sustainability and fostering strong partnerships with communities and government stakeholders as we enter the next phase of our community development efforts.
“Every single one is being attended to.
Worthy to note that spill over is not a failure, as we plan to execute 3 projects in 5 years in each community”, he added
As part of the education support, Dangote Cement announced a N15,720,000 scholarship award for 120 students drawn from its 17 host communities. The beneficiaries include 100 undergraduates and 20 pupils from primary and secondary schools.
In addition, 25 youths received new laptops under the company’s digital training and ICT empowerment programme, while 60 women were empowered with corn milling machines to boost their business activities
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Daisi Elemide while lauding the company’s contribution to its host communities stated that more environmental friendly initiatives should be imbibed to ease the effects of production on the residents.
Other dignitaries at the event includes, the Commissioner for Community Development, Hon. Ademola Balogun, the Chairman of Yewa North Local Government, Dr Olusola Akinbode, the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye, and the Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Mulero, among others, who urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes to make good use of the opportunity for their economic upliftment.
