The Gboko Plant of Dangote Cement in Benue State has awarded a N10 million scholarship to students from its host community of Mbayion in Gboko Local Government Area.
The General Manager (Administration) of Dangote Cement, Jonathan Kunde, and the acting Director of the Gboko plant, SV Srinivasan, while speaking during the presentation of the cheque to the beneficiaries at the Gboko plant, noted that the scholarship had become an annual event meant to uplift the educational development of the people of Mbayion and therefore solicited for more cooperation and understanding from the community.
They assured that there would be increase in cement production and increase in the corporate social responsibility of the company this year.
According to them, the second line of production has been completed and is ready to commence operations.
Mr Srinivasan said, “This would create more openings for the recruitment of indigenes. We want you to see the company as the community’s. You must safeguard it for the mutual benefit of both parties.”
The President of Yion Development Association, Comrade Ande Per, who received the cheque on behalf of the community, thanked Dangote Cement for the gesture and emphasised that the company 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 the company for several years in order to boost healthcare delivery in the community and its environs.
The paramount ruler of Gboko, Chief Joseph Ikpa Ahua, who spoke on behalf of the Tiv Traditional Council, noted that the scholarship would be of immense benefit, especially to students from financially disadvantaged homes.
Chief Ahua also encouraged the company to consider an upward review of the bursary to accommodate the increasing number of students.
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