The wealthiest Black man, Aliko Dangote, through his company, Dangote Granite Mines, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, has awarded scholarships to 60 Nigerian students in secondary and higher institutions from the host communities of his companies.
The award, which will cover the tuition of beneficiaries from different schools in Nigeria, is part of the organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility to foster educational development and access to quality education for the people in its host communities.
The mining company also promised automatic employment to beneficiaries who might achieve excellence in their studies.
The management of Dangote Granite Mines disclosed that the educational support is to ensure that the host communities are included in the sustainable development efforts of the West African nation and the company, mostly in the areas of education and infrastructure – noting that education is one of the focal areas of development for the company.
According to Punch Newspaper, the recipients of the Dangote Granite Mines scholarship awards were selected from the five host communities in Nigeria, including Ajebandele; Olorunmodi Ademowo; Saliu Baba Risi; Idi-Omo and Ijebu-Igbo Township.
The Director of Human Assets Management, Dangote Projects, Mr. Ebenezer Fola Ali, handed the cheques to the beneficiaries, noting that the purpose of the scholarship is to reduce the burden of tuition expenses incurred by the students and their families.
“The scholarship award was part of the agreement reached with the leadership of the host communities during the signing of the Community Development Agreement,” Mr. Ali stated.
“I urge the beneficiaries to face their education as they will be given automatic employment if they do well academically,” he noted.
Mr. Ali assured the host communities of the readiness of Dangote Granite Mines company to fulfill its part of the agreement, which includes ensuring it identifies with the people at all times.
He admonished the leaders of the host communities to sustain their support for the Dangote Granite Mines by shunning all forms of hostilities. He also urged the beneficiaries to work hard and perform excellently in their different fields to motivate the company to offer more support.
The traditional ruler of the community, Oba Yussuf, expressed appreciation to the management of Dangote Group for the kind gesture, pointing out that the scholarship award is a testament to the company’s community friendliness and commitment to giving back to society, and deserves the support of the community.
The monarch further urged his subjects to take the scholarship seriously, including other projects that the Dangote Group provided for the communities.
Oba Yussuf also charged the members of the community to continue to maintain peace to encourage the company to offer more benefits.
