Dangote Cement empowers Benue businesswomen

Dangote Cement Plc has empowered businesswomen in host communities in Benue State with cash grants in a bid to boost women’s entrepreneurship. 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. Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday in […]

Dangote Cement Plc has empowered businesswomen in host communities in Benue State with cash grants in a bid to boost women’s entrepreneurship.

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.

Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday in Gboko, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola said: “Through this scheme, selected women entrepreneurs in host communities will receive N100,000 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 a tangible economic impact in their communities.”

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Wakeel added: “When women succeed in business, they invest in their families’ education, health, and well-being, breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a ripple effect of positive change in their communities.”

He said the programme will “Enable the women to generate more income to sustain their families, reduce women’s over-reliance on their husbands.”

He said the money is a grant and would not be paid back to Dangote Cement.

According to him, traditional leaders of Quarry, Tse-Kucha, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers host communities, as well as the Dangote Community Consultative Committee (DCCC), were responsible for the identification and selection of beneficiaries.

It would be recalled that Dangote Cement Plc and six host communities had signed a historic Community Development Agreement (CDA) amidst jubilation.

Acting Plant Director, Engr. Munusamy Murugan said the empowerment will be an annual event.

Engr Murugan, who was represented by Engr. Tavershima Soom said other economic empowerment programmes lined up include farmers’ programme and youth skill acquisition programme, among several others. 

Reacting, a beneficiary, Ruth Ikyowe Tser, 37, said she will invest the money into her cassava farming business, while commending the company for the support.