ResidentsResidents of Ibeju Lekki Applaud DangoteRefinery CSR activitiesResidents

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Residents of Ibeju Lekki Applaud DangoteRefinery CSR activities

The Committee ofBaales and some residents of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos have showered encomium on theManagement of Dangote Refinery, on its social responsibility initiatives.

They expressedappreciation to the company for providing vital infrastructure for theircommunities, repairing all the entrance roads of the 15 host communities bygrading, sand filling, and applying stone base and now community people are ableto access their abode without wading through the waters.

In a chat withselect newsmen yesterday, Baale of Magbon-Segun, High Chief Mufutau Dauda said,Dangote Refinery has demonstrated a high level of social responsibility as ithas executed so many tangible projects across all the host communities, even upto Lekki.

According to him:“We are all praying for Aliko Dangote. I even raised a special prayer for himin our community mosque this morning. He has done so well for all ourcommunities. No doubt, he can do more, but for now, he is honestly trying. Ourchildren are being trained inside the refinery site and they already passed theLevel 1 and Level 2 examinations for City & Guilds certification inElectrical & Mechanical Engineering and they will be writing theexamination for Level 3 certification soon. He also sunk boreholes for all thecommunities, and even provided generators, to each of the communities. And now,we have been informed the boreholes will be upgraded to solar power. His typeis rare for sure.”

In a similarvein, the Baale of Okeyanta, High Chief Shakiru Bello, said the scholarshipscheme, which was started in 2019 by Dangote has helped parents in thecommunities. He said: “When they started the scholarship scheme for secondaryand tertiary institution students, we thought they wouldn’t be able to sustainit, but they have continued to increase the numbers of beneficiaries every yearand this is highly commendable.

Mr. Akinola Yinusaof Okesegun community said his daughter is a beneficiary of the scholarshipscheme and apart from the cash award, she is provided all her subject textbooksand academic materials like math set and calculator, and that his youngerbrother, Kabiru Yinusa, works as a full staff in the Refinery.

“The benefit ofthe Refinery is enormous to us in this community. My younger brother works inthe refinery as a staff and my third daughter also benefited from thescholarship scheme last year, so I am happy. I know so many families that havebeen positively affected by the company, so, yes, I am among those praying forDangote Refinery with my other community people. He also urged Dangote not torelent in its efforts to ensure that more jobs were provided for qualifiedgraduates who are indigenes of the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

In the same vein,Ambali Useni a youth leader, also corroborated what other people have said,concerning the positive impacts of Dangote CSR initiatives and also said andreaffirmed the commitment of all the locals in ensuring that the companyoperates a rancour-free Plant, as it benefits both the state and the country atlarge.

According to him:“In this community, We, the youth are peaceful. We are happy with what DangoteRefinery management is doing for us and for our community, though like Oliver Twist,we are asking for more. The unemployment rate would have been very high in thisarea, if not for the operations of this refinery. Many of the community youthswere trained to acquire skills in trades such as carpentry; bricklaying and masonry; plumbing;automobile mechanic; welding and metal fabrication; electrical installation;refrigeration and air conditioning; and generator repair. They were also issuedthe Trade Tests certificates as well as certificates from the NationalDirectorate of Employment (NDE). Some of these youths now work with Dangote. Weare optimistic that we will benefit more as we have all resolved to give thecompany our maximum support and cooperation.”

The communitiesin the area include Idasho, Ilekuru, Okeyanta, Magbon-Segun, Okesegun, Itoke,Idotun, Alasia, Okunraiye and Lekki towns, Imobido, Tiye, Mosa, Ilege, andOlomowewe.

Speakingalso, High Chief S.A. Adeyemi thankedthe management of Dangote Refinery for their unrelenting efforts at impactingtheir host communities positively describing the social performance profile ofthe company as very impressive.
Heexplained that with what Dangote Refinery has been doing for the people, it behoovesthe community leaders and all the residents to reciprocate and ensure peacereigns for the good of all so that the company can do more.Muchas the people and community leaders are lauding the company for the giantstrides in the host communities, Adeyemi said“I am also enjoining them not rest on their oars. As Oliver Twist, we are stillasking for more because all these projects can never be too much for thepeople. He concluded.