Dangote cement awards host community N10m scholarship

The Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko Plant in Benue has awarded a N10 million scholarship to students from its host community at Mbayion in Gboko Local Government Area of the state.

General Manager of Administration, Jonathan Kunde and the Acting Director of Gboko Plant Mr SV Srinivasan while speaking during the presentation of cheque to the beneficiaries at Gboko Plant, noted that the scholarship has become an annual event meant to uplift the educational development of the people of Mbayion community and therefore solicited for more cooperation and understanding from the host community.

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The company officials however debunked rumours that it was taking out clinker from the Gboko plant to elsewhere, rather they assured that there would be increase in cement production and increase in the corporate social responsibility of the establishment this year.

According to them, the second line of production has been completed and ready to commence operation.

“This would create more openings for the recruitment of indigenes. We want you to see the company as the community own. You must safeguard it for the mutual benefit of both parties,” the cement company official stated.

President of the Yion Development Association Comrade Ande Per, who received the cheque on behalf of the host community, thanked the company for the gesture, as he emphasised that Dangote Cement had lived up to its responsibility despite the fact that production had stalled for a very long time.

Per however appealed to the company to expedite action on the hospital at Ihungwanor which had been under construction by for several years in order to boost health care delivery around the host community.

On his part, the First Class traditional head of Gboko, Chief Joseph Ikpa Ahua, who spoke on behalf of the traditional council, noted that the scholarship would be of immense benefit especially to students from financially disadvantaged homes.

Ahua also encouraged the company to consider an upward review of the bursary to accommodate the vastly increased number of students since it was instituted over ten years ago.