Dangote Cement Ibese celebrates senior citizens in host communities

• Gives free medical checks, drugs, wheelchairs

(L- R  from Back) Lydia  David, CEO, Novia Hospital; Akin Abe, chief finance officer, Dangote Cement Ibese Plant; Roy K. Uttam, plant director, Dangote Cement Ibese ; Wakeel Olayiwola, group head, social performance, Dangote Cement Plc; Olugbemiga Aina, general manager, human asset management /admin, Dangote Cement Ibese Plant; (Beneficiaries in front), Modupe Olaoluwa Bankole and Hakeem Akinsola, during the presentation of  wheelChairs and other mobility aids to the some  senior citizens at the Dangote Cement Ibese Plant at the 2024 Edition of One – Day Care Programme for the host communities senior citizens,Ibese Plant, Ogun State at the weekend.

Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant recently extended the frontier of its social investments in the wellbeing of its 17 host communities when it hosted the senior citizens in the communities offering them free medical services and mobility equipment for the people with disabilities including wheelchairs 

The Company said the gesture was aimed at complementing the effort of the government in improving the lives of the people of Ogun state especially those in whose territory the leading cement manufacturer operates.

Tagged “A Day-Out with Senior Citizens 2024”, the well-attended annual event saw the elderly ones being led in physical exercise, receiving health talks, medical checks, free drugs and other food and household items like rice, semo, honey, beverages, bathing soaps, detergent, clothing and cash incentive.

In his welcome address, Roy Uttam, the Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant director, said the event was aimed at increasing the level of socialisation, engagement, emotional and mental wellbeing among the elderly around its host communities.

Uttam pointed out 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 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 for the benefit of 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, as well as to offer an opportunity to reflect and connect with one another to promote longevity.” 

While revelling on the success of the maiden edition last year, Uttam recalled, “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 people 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 the identification of 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 more 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 director noted with nostalgia 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.”

Uttam noted that In line with the company’s local content initiative, it had retained the services of Novia Hospital Services, a local healthcare provider, to assist in making this event a success. He assured the people of Dangote Cement’s continued support and believes that with the people’s cooperation and collaboration, the management will continue to build on “our shared vision of peace and prosperity”.

On his part, Wakeel Olayiwola, the group head of social performance, Dangote Cement Plc, said the whole idea about hosting the elderly ones in the host communities borders on carrying along the old ones who are the foundation upon whom the new generations are building on. “They also need to be active in their old age”, he added.

Responding on behalf of other elders, Michael Oderinlo, a beneficiary, from 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 organisations.

” it is a very rare gesture by a business organization to take special interest in the old people and cater to their wellbeing,” he said.

Also another beneficiary of the wheelchair, Modupeola, Olaoluwa Bankole described the wheelchair donation as very touching and timely saying she now has a new lease of life with the mobility aid and thanked the Dangote Cement management for coming to her aid.