In a bold boost for women entrepreneurship in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc has empowered businesswomen in host communities in Benue State with cash grants, thus deepening business activities in the State.
The women’s empowerment programme came months after 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, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, 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.”
Mr. Wakeel said,” 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 would “enable the women to generate more income to sustain their families and 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 will be remembered that a wave of jubilation swept through Gboko communities last year when Dangote Cement Plc and six host communities signed a historic Community Development Agreement (CDA).
He said the company will monitor the progress of the women entrepreneurs and evaluate how the money is being invested.
Acting Plant Director Engr Munusamy Murugan said the empowerment will be an annual event.
Engr Murugan, who Engr Tavershima Soom represented, said there are other economic empowerment programmes, including farmers’ and youth skill acquisition programmes.
In his remarks, Johnson Kor, Head of Social Performance at Gboko Plant, told the community representatives that the company is doing a lot to support community members and urged them to be good ambassadors of Dangote Cement Plc.
Reacting, a beneficiary, Ruth Ikyowe Tser, 37, said she would invest the money in her cassava farming business and commend the company for its support.
Similarly, Mrs Vishigh Comfort Msurshiona, 39, said she would use the money to expand her commodity trade.
