By Business AM
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Limited has awarded scholarships to 460 students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions from its host communities in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.
Devakumar Edwin,Group executive director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Dangote Group, presented the scholarships to the students at a recent event attended by traditional rulers and government officials.
Edwin said the company believes that education is the passport to the future and that an investment in knowledge yields the greatest dividends for mankind.
He added that the company has over the years, supported the Nigerian educational sector by instituting scholarship award programmes, and part of the company’s education intervention initiative for indigenous students of host communities impacted by its businesses.
Highlighting previous scholarship programmes facilitated by the company, he stated: “In 2019, we executed a pilot of the scholarship programme where 51 secondary school students from our 15 host communities here in Ibeju Lekki were awarded. However, we could not hold the second edition in the year 2020 due to the incidence of COVID -19 and its associated effects not only on businesses but on every household.
“In 2021, 118 secondary school students and 19 tertiary institution students from our host communities were awarded the scholarship award and after a rigorous screening process this year, 443 secondary school students and 17 tertiary institution students have qualified for the scholarship award.”
Congratulating the beneficiaries, he enjoined them to make the most of the opportunities and to always strive for excellence.
“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.
Liasim Ogunbekun, the traditional ruler of Lekki,in his remarks, said that the programme was a blessing to the community and gave kudos to the Dangote Group.
“We appreciate Dangote Group because this is not their first time but their third scholarship edition to the host communities in Ibeju Lekki.
“I urge the beneficiaries to put in more effort in their academic pursuit and justify the amount being paid for the scholarship.
“We thank the Dangote Group because a lot of improvements have been recorded in the lives of the participants,” Ogunbekun said.
Raheem Olukayode, one of the beneficiaries of the City & Guilds Engineering training programme, thanked Dangote Group for the opportunity to study, become an engineer and impact positively to the society.
“The training has been beneficial because it supports the less privileged who are interested in furthering their education and achieving their dreams in spite of financial challenges.
“The programme is simply going to positively affect the development of Ibeju-Lekki in future because we are going to have more engineers emerging from this area.
“We were told that after level three training, the best of us will be given a job opportunity to work with Dangote Group so we are encouraged to give our best to win the slot,” Olukayode said.
On her part, Sano Omolere, the head girl of Community Senior High School, Magbon Segun, Ibeju Lekki, said that the scholarship had assisted their parents in supporting their education.
“For instance, some students have relented in their effort to further their education because of lack of money.
“However, this scholarship has supported our parents and provided us with school fees and books that have encouraged a lot of us to do better in class,” the head girl said.
The company,in a statement made available to Business a.m, explained that the scholarship 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.
