By Francis Ajuonuma
Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant, extended the frontier of its social investments in the well-being of its host communities over the weekend by hosting senior citizens in 17 communities, offering them free medical services and mobility equipment, including wheelchairs for people with disabilities.
The Company said the gesture aimed to complement the government’s effort to improve the lives of the people of Ogun State, especially those in whose territory the cement manufacturer operates.
Tagged “A Day-Out with Senior Citizens 2024,” the well-attended annual event witnessed the elderly being led in physical exercise, receiving health talks, medical checks, free drugs, and other food and household items like rice, lemon, honey, beverages, bathing soaps, detergent, clothing, and cash incentives.
In his welcome address, Dangote Cement’s Ibese Plant Director Roy Uttam said the event aimed to increase socialisation, engagement, and emotional and mental well-being among the elderly in its host communities.
Uttam assured that the management of Ibese Plant remains deeply committed to its responsibilities under the Community Development Agreement signed in 2022, saying, “We will continue to prioritise the transfer of both economic and social benefits to our host communities, focusing on areas such as health, education, infrastructure, and empowerment.
“It is gratifying that our social investment strides are making a meaningful impact in the lives of people across the host communities. We are determined to keep improving and broadening our initiatives as we work together to benefit all.
“As elders who have devoted your youthful lives to the growth and development of your communities, the focus now should be on your health and well-being and the overall goodness of the society. This event is designed with your health in mind and to offer an opportunity to reflect and connect with one another to promote longevity,” he said.
While highlighting the success of the maiden edition last year, Uttam recalled that “we hosted 50 elderly members of our host communities for the first time in the history of this Plant. It was a memorable event filled with activities that demonstrated deep recognition for this all-important person in our society and promoted healthy living among them. It was a significant milestone for the Plant and the communities.
“We have made significant improvements this year, including identifying five persons with disabilities from our host communities, who will each receive mobility aids to enhance their quality of life. This is just one example of how we continue to expand the scope of our social investments to create even greater impact”.
Uttam assured the host communities that the Plant would continue to live up to its responsibilities as regards the execution of the existing Community Development Agreement (CDA), even much beyond, saying some of the social investment initiatives of the Plant, when well appraised, go beyond the letters of the signed CDA.
The Dangote Cement boss noted that the Company’s social investment strides are making a meaningful impact in the lives of people across the host communities and promised that the management was “determined to keep improving and broadening our initiatives, as we work together for the benefit of all.”
He also revealed that In line with the Company’s local content initiative, it had retained the services of Novia Hospital Services, a regional healthcare provider, to assist in making this event a success, assuring the people of Dangote Cement’s continued support and noting that with the people’s cooperation and collaboration, the management will continue to build on “our shared vision of peace and prosperity.”
In his comment, Wakeel Olayiwola, the Group Head of Social Performance at Dangote Cement Plc, said the idea of hosting older people in the host communities borders on carrying along the old ones who are the foundation upon which the new generations are building.
“They also need to be active in their old age,” he stated.
Responding on behalf of other elders, a beneficiary, Pa Michael Oderinlo from the Ijako-Orile host community, thanked the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture, especially for reaching out to the elders, which he said was not a common practice among business organizations.
He said, “It is a very rare gesture by a business organization to take special interest in the old people and cater to their well-being.”
