Dangote Cement rolls out empowerment programme for women entrepreneurs in Benue
As part of its empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc has presented cash grant to women in its Gboko plant in Benue State to enhance their businesses.
The women empowerment programme is coming shortly after the company increased the bursary allowance of students from the company’s host communities by more than 100 per cent.
The Syndicate reports that the cash grant, totalling N15 million, was presented to the selected women on Wednesday in Gboko by the Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola.
“”Through this scheme, selected women entrepreneurs in host communities will receive ₦100,000 grants each to strengthen and expand their businesses.
“The financial support aims to boost local enterprise development at the grassroots level, empowering female business owners with capital to scale their operations.
“Each beneficiary will use the funds to address specific business needs, from purchasing inventory to upgrading equipment, creating tangible economic impact in their communities,” he said.
According to Mr. Wakeel, when women succeed in business, they invest in their families’ education, health, and well-being, breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a ripple effect of positive change in their communities.
He added that the programme would “enable the women to generate more income to sustain their families, reduce women’s over-reliance on their husbands.”
The official explained that the grant would not be paid back to the Dangote Cement.
He explained that the beneficiaries were selected by the traditional leaders of Quarry, Tse-Kucha, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur and Pass Brothers, as well as the Dangote Community Consultative Committee.
He said the company will monitor progress of the women entrepreneurs and evaluate how the money is being invested.
In a message to the event, the Acting Plant Director, Engr. Munusamy Murugan said the empowerment will be an annual event.
Murugan, who was represented by Engr Tavershima Soom, said other economic empowerment programmes have been lined up to support farmers, and offer skills training for the youths, among others.
In his remarks, the Head of Social Performance, Gboko Plant, Mr Johnson Kor, told the community representatives that the company is doing a lot to support the various communities, urging them to be good ambassadors of Dangote Cement Plc.
Responding, one of the beneficiaries, Ruth Ikyowe Tser, 37, said she will invest the money into her cassava farming business, while commending the company for the support.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Vishigh Comfort Msurshiona, 39, said she will use the money to grow her business in commodities trading.
