Dangote Cement Plc has extended financial support to women entrepreneurs in Benue State, providing grants of N100,000 each to help them grow their businesses and stimulate economic activity across host communities.
The initiative, part of the company’s broader social responsibility agenda, was unveiled at a ceremony held in Gboko. It comes just months after Dangote Cement significantly raised its bursary support for students in the area by over 100 per cent.
Speaking at the event, Wakeel Olayiwola, Group Head, Social Performance at Dangote Cement Plc, said: “Through this scheme, selected women entrepreneurs in host communities will receive N100,000 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 fund to address specific business needs, from purchasing inventory to upgrading equipment, creating a tangible economic impact in their communities.”
Olayiwola noted that the grant is non-refundable and intended to reduce the financial dependence of women on their spouses. He added that the selection of beneficiaries was carried out by traditional leaders from Quarry, Tse-Kucha, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur, and Pass Brothers communities, alongside members of the Dangote Community Consultative Committee (DCCC).
He also confirmed that the company would be monitoring how the grants are utilised and tracking the progress of the beneficiaries over time.
Acting Plant Director, Munusamy Murugan, represented by Tavershima Soom, announced that the women’s empowerment initiative would become an annual event. He added that more support programmes are planned, including schemes for farmers and youth training in vocational skills.
Johnson Kor, Head of Social Performance at the Gboko Plant, addressed community members at the event, encouraging them to serve as positive representatives of Dangote Cement and reaffirming the company’s commitment to local development.
Among the beneficiaries was 37-year-old Ruth Ikyowe Tser, who said she would invest the grant into her cassava farming business. Another recipient, 39-year-old Vishigh Comfort Msurshiona, said she planned to expand her commodity trading enterprise with the funds.
