Dangote Cement Tripples Students’ Bursary for Benue Host Communities 

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Dangote Cement Plc has tripled its scholarship fund for its host communities in Gboko, Benue State.

Head of Social Performance of Dangote Cement, Gboko Plant, Dr. Johnson Kor, stated the company has broadened its intervention to accommodate a larger number of beneficiaries.

Plant Director, Gboko Plant, Engr. Abhijit Dutta, said at the presentation of the symbolic cheque in Gboko that, “This year’s scholarship marks a significant increase from ten million naira to about thirty million naira.”

Engr. Dutta, represented by the Head of Finance Department, Olusegun Orebanjo, said no fewer than 230 students are beneficiaries from the 2025 education scheme.

He said the scope of beneficiaries for this year has been expanded beyond the immediate host community of Mbayion to include other mining communities of Mbatur in Yandev district, Mbazembe Community in Ipav district and Pass Brothers Community in Guma Local Government Council.

Engr. Dutta said the company does not consider host communities “merely as neighbours, but as valued partners in progress.”

He added: “The sustainability of this scholarship scheme for indigent but deserving students reflects our deep-rooted passion for education and human capital development.”

The scholarship cheque was presented during a ceremony that also featured the graduation of beneficiaries of a youth skill acquisition programme sponsored by the Dangote Cement Plant, Gboko, and supervised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

According to him: “In further demonstration of this commitment, the scholarship fund has this year been reviewed upward to ₦28,800,000.00, and its scope expanded to cover all six host communities, strictly in line with the provisions of the Community Development Agreement (CDA).

“This deliberate expansion reflects our desire to ensure equity, inclusiveness, and shared benefits across all our immediate communities.

“Dangote Cement Plc has consistently sustained this educational intervention over the years and will continue to do so, because we firmly believe that when our communities grow, our business thrives. Our CSR initiatives are therefore not one-off gestures, but long-term social investments designed to create lasting impact.

“While congratulating the beneficiaries, we encourage that the scholarship fund be prudently and responsibly utilised for educational purposes.

“The scholarship process is transparently administered by a duly constituted committee set up by the Company to guarantee fairness and accountability across all beneficiary communities.

“Beyond scholarship, Dangote Cement Plc remains passionately committed to improving livelihoods and social welfare within our host communities.

“In collaboration with community leaders and other stakeholders, we continuously design and implement programmes that respond to real needs, in line with the CDA and our Corporate Social Responsibility policy.

“Accordingly, in 2025, the Gboko Plant rolled out several people-centred development programmes, including: Women Empowerment Programme for 150 beneficiaries, Farmers’ Empowerment Programme for 50 beneficiaries, Youth Empowerment Programme for 30 youths, among other laudable programmes.

“The beneficiary communities for these programmes are: Tse-Kucha, Quarry, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers.

“Today’s ceremony also marks the successful completion of the Youth Empowerment Programme, with the passing-out of participants and the presentation of certificates and starter packs.

“These interventions are designed not only to provide skills, but to restore dignity, promote self-reliance, and stimulate sustainable livelihoods within the communities.

A monarch, Ter Gboko, Gabriel Shosum, advised all beneficiaries to put the bursary to judicious use. He was represented by the Mue Ter Gboko, Ikpa Ahua.

Representative of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mrs. Sarah Adeniyi, described Dangote Cement Plc as a worthy partner in progress considering its support for youth skill development.

A 16-year-old beneficiary, and secondary school student of the Amua Memorial Grammer School, Gabriel Yo Hol, thanked the company for the scholarship and promised to be an Ambassador of Dangote Cement Plc.