Dangote Refinery awards scholarships to 137 students in host communities

Dangote Oil Refining Company has awarded scholarships to 137 secondary and tertiary institution students from its host communities in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, as part of efforts to intensify its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.

The Aliko Dangote-controlled company said the scholarships had become an annual event meant to contribute to the educational development of the people and position them rightly in the scheme of things in Lagos State and Nigeria in general.

Devakumar Edwin, group executive director, strategy, capital projects and portfolio development, Dangote Group, who presented the scholarships to the 19 tertiary institution students and 118 secondary school students from 15 communities in Ibeju Lekki, said the Dangote Group believes that education is the passport to the future and that an investment in knowledge yields the greatest dividends for mankind.

He also stressed that the company had over the years, supported the Nigerian educational sector by instituting scholarship award programmes as part of the company’s education intervention initiative for indigenous students of host communities impacted by its businesses.

Edwin recalled that a pilot of the scholarship programme was executed in 2019 where 51 secondary school students from 15 host communities in Ibeju Lekki were awarded. He, however, lamented that the COVID-19 pandemic hindered the execution of the second edition of the scholarship programme in 2020.

“As the curtain closes on 2021, we cannot but acknowledge the efforts that our scholars have put into their academic studies, to obtain such excellent results which qualifies them as beneficiaries of this award.

“Hence, after a rigorous screening process, 118 secondary school students and 19 tertiary institution students from our host communities have qualified for this scholarship award,” he stated.

While congratulating the beneficiaries, he  enjoined them to continue to work hard at their studies, strive to achieve excellence in all that they do, and never stop giving their best.

“With the continuous support of the people and the Lagos State government, we shall not relent in our efforts to be socially accountable while we positively impact our host communities. We look forward to a continuous peaceful and rewarding relationship with our host communities in Ibeju Lekki,” Edwin added.

On his part, Olumuyiwa Ogunbekun, the Oni-Lekki of Lekki, commended Dangote Oil Refining Company for initiating the scholarship award for indigenes of the area. The monarch remarked that the move showed that the company was determined to carry along host communities and to contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the locality.

He urged the beneficiaries to study hard and focus on their education in order to better their lives and become worthy ambassadors of Ibeju Lekki in future.

Also speaking, Qudus Sodiq, senior secondary school beneficiary from Community Senior High School, Lekki, expressed appreciation to the Dangote Group for the scholarship.

“I am very happy with this scholarship. It will help me to accomplish my educational aspiration and pursue my dreams in future,” he said.