Dangote funds women entrepreneurs in Benue
In a bold boost for women entrepreneurship in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc has empowered businesswomen in host communities in Benue with cash grants, thus deepening business activities in the State.
The women empowerment programme came months after the Dangote Cement in Gboko increased bursary payments to students of host communities by more than 100 per cent.
Mr Wakeel Olayiwola, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, disclosed this at the ceremony on Wednesday in Gboko.
“Through this scheme, selected women entrepreneurs in host communities will receive ₦100,000 grants each to strengthen and expand their businesses.
“The financial support aims to boost local enterprise development at the grassroots level, empowering female business owners with capital to scale their operations.
‘’Each beneficiary will use the funds to address specific business needs, from purchasing inventory to upgrading equipment, creating tangible economic impact in their communities.”
Olayiwola said that the empowerment would boost ability to invest in their families’ education, health, and well-being as well as break the cycle of poverty and enable positive change in their communities.
He said the programme would also enable the women to generate more income to reduce over-reliance on their husbands.
He said the money is a grant and would not be paid back to the Dangote Cement.
Olayiwola said traditional leaders of Quarry, Tse-Kucha, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur and Pass Brothers host communities, as well as the Dangote Community Consultative Committee were involved in the selection of beneficiaries.
He said the company would monitor progress of the women entrepreneurs and evaluate how the money is being invested.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Dangote Cement Plc and six host communities signed a historic Community Development Agreement (CDA) in 2024.
The acting Plant Director, Munusamy Murugan, said the empowerment would be an annual event.
Murugan, who was represented by Tavershima Soom, said that other economic empowerment programmes lined up include farmers programme and youth skill acquisition programme.
In his remarks, Head of the Social Performance, Gboko Plant, Johnson Kor, said that the company would continue to support members of the communities, urging them to be good ambassadors of the Dangote Cement Plc.
Ruth Tser, a beneficiary, said she would invest the money in her cassava farming business, while commending the company for the support.
Similarly, Mrs Vishigh Msurshiona, pledged to use the money to grow her trade in commodities.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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