Dangote Granite Mines, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun state, South West Nigeria, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, has awarded multi-million Naira scholarships to 60 students from host communities in various schools across Nigeria.
The multi- million award is part of Dangote Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility to foster educational development in its host communities.
The company also promised the beneficiaries automatic employment, should they excel in their studies.
The management of Dangote Granite Mines said the scholarships were provided so that its host communities were not left behind in terms of development especially in the areas of education and infrastructure.
The company noted that education was one of the key areas of focus for development.
Beneficiaries of the Dangote Granite Mines scholarship awards were drawn from the five host communities, which include Ajebandele; Olorunmodi Ademowo; Saliu Baba Risi; Idi-Omo and Ijebu-Igbo township.
The scholarship covers students in secondary school and higher institution.
The Director, Human Assets Management, Dangote Projects, Mr. Ebenezer Fola Ali, who handed over the cheques to each of the beneficiaries, explained that the scholarship was meant to reduce the expenses and cost of education incurred by the students and their families.
“The scholarship award was part of the agreement reached with the leadership of the host communities during the signing of the Community Development Agreement” , Mr. Ali stated.
“I urge the beneficiaries to face their education as they will be given automatic employment if they do well academically,” he noted.
He also assured the host communities of the readiness of Dangote Granite Mines company to fulfill its own part of the agreement which includes ensuring it identifies with the people at all times.
Mr. Ali charged the host communities’ leaders to continue to support the management of Dangote Granite Mines by maintaining peace and urged the beneficiaries to justify their choice as recipients by performing excellently in their different fields in order to motivate the management to do more.
In his remark, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Yussuf expressed appreciation to the management of Dangote Group for the show of love and assistance to the communities, pointing out that the scholarship awards indicated that the company was community friendly and committed to giving back to the society hence “it deserves all the support the communities can muster.
The monarch urged his subjects not to take the scholarship awards for granted and other projects that the Dangote management provided for the communities.
He charged the people to continue to maintain peace as it is only when there is peace that the company can help the communities more.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Aregbe Grace of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the management of Dangote Granite Mines for the good gesture, saying the scholarship will go a long way in reducing the financial challenges they will encounter in school.
