Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth in its host communities with the distribution of laptops and grinding machines during its 2025 Host Community Day celebration in Ibese, Ogun State.
The event, themed “Sustaining Growth, Strengthening Bonds,” brought together government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, and other stakeholders in a celebration of partnership, cultural unity, and shared development goals.
It also provided an opportunity for the company to review its social investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic empowerment over the past year.
Speaking at the event, the Plant Director, Ayyagari Subbaraidu, described the Host Community Day as a vital platform for strengthening relationships and building mutual trust with host communities.
Represented by the Chief General Manager (Maintenance), Hemant Dave, Subbaraidu said the celebration went beyond cement production to reflect the company’s journey of care, inclusion, and collaboration with its stakeholders.
He expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Government for its continued support and acknowledged the presence of key government functionaries, including the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, and chairmen of host local government areas.
According to him, development is a shared responsibility, and Dangote Cement remains committed to long-term investments that improve the welfare of its host communities.
Subbaraidu highlighted the company’s ongoing initiatives in educational support, healthcare access, infrastructure development, and empowerment programmes for youths and women, assuring traditional leaders and community groups of Dangote Cement’s sustained commitment to responsible corporate citizenship.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, commended Dangote Cement for its consistent engagement and positive impact on social welfare and economic opportunities in the area.
He urged continued cooperation between the company and its host communities and called on other wealthy Nigerians to emulate the example of the company’s founder, Aliko Dangote, by investing locally to drive national development.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Ademola Balogun, also praised the company’s robust Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, reaffirming the state government’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with Dangote Cement and host communities to promote peace and sustainable development.
Providing an overview of the Ibese Plant’s 2025 social investment scorecard, the Head of Social Performance, Ademola Ojolowo, disclosed that the company recorded steady progress in economic empowerment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
He added that several new social investment projects are planned for 2026, while scholarship funding for secondary and tertiary students has been increased and ongoing projects across the 17 host communities are nearing completion.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Oluseyi Mulero, expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for its empowerment programmes, noting that they have significantly improved the quality of life in the area.
He encouraged the company to expand its interventions and urged community members to take ownership of development projects to ensure sustainability and peace.
The Community Day celebration featured traditional games, cultural performances, and prize presentations.
As part of its commitment to education and digital literacy, beneficiaries of the company’s ICT training programme received laptops, while women were empowered with grinding machines to support income-generating activities.
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