By Chidimma Okwara,
The Dangote Group has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to investing in education, healthcare, and other key social and economic sectors as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategy.
The group pledged its commitment to investing in education through scholarship schemes, healthcare and other sectors to boost socio-economic activities in Nigeria.
Alhaji Hashem Ahmed, General Manager and Federal Government Liaison Officer of the company, made this known at the Dangote Special Day, in the ongoing 20th Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) in Abuja. The theme of the trade fair is “Sustainability: Consumption, Incentives, and Taxation.”
Key Areas of Commitment and Activities:
Education
Scholarship Schemes: The company provides scholarship schemes that benefit numerous students each year, including those from host communities.
Infrastructure: Initiatives include building schools, renovating school libraries, furnishing schools, donating essential educational materials like school desks, and providing computer equipment.
University Interventions: The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has made significant donations to Nigerian universities, including large sums for the development of a business school and the construction of fully equipped student accommodation.
Capacity Building: The Dangote Oil Refining Company, for instance, has a comprehensive approach that includes a scholarship program, a Train-The-Trainers Capacity Building Initiative for teachers, and school infrastructure projects.
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Healthcare
Community Health Services: The Group supports the expansion of community healthcare services and the equipping of health centers.
Infrastructure and Equipment: Examples of contributions include the construction of new health facilities and the donation of medical equipment to hospitals.
Health and Well-being Focus: The Aliko Dangote Foundation’s mission includes strategic investments to improve health and well-being. This extends to addressing acute malnutrition with a commitment to reaching one million households.
Other Key Sectors (Economic Empowerment, Infrastructure, and Environment)
Economic Empowerment: The ADF runs micro-grant programs, particularly for women, to help alleviate poverty and enable them to recapitalize and expand their small-scale businesses.
Infrastructure: CSR initiatives include major road construction projects, provision of social amenities like potable water (boreholes) and electricity, and construction of culverts and drainages in host communities.
Environmental Sustainability: The Group is committed to environmental sustainability through projects like tree planting campaigns and rolling out alternative fuel projects to reduce its carbon footprint.
Sustainability Pillars: Dangote Cement’s overall sustainability strategy is guided by seven pillars, which include Social, Economic, Environmental, and Cultural, alongside Financial, Operational, and Institutional.
The commitment is spearheaded by both the various Dangote business entities, like Dangote Cement, and the philanthropic arm, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, with the overarching goal of boosting socio-economic activities and fostering inclusive development across Africa.
