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Tag: Dangote

  • Dangote partners Kano varsity on agric

    Dangote partners Kano varsity on agric

    The Chairman of Dangote Group of Companies and Pro-Chancellor of Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil, Kano, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is partnering the university through developing an agricultural master plan, to boost the agricultural base of the North.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shehu Alhaji Musa, at an interactive session with the media in preparation for the 15th anniversary of the university, said Dangote was keen on the development of the Faculty of Agriculture.

    He said: “The plan is in the pipeline and we have started clearing way for the new project.

    “When the plan is achieved, it can cater for 1,000,000 farmers. This will give succour to our agriculture. We can also have food security with its attendant benefits.”

    Prof. Musa added: “It is in line with this that Dangote pledged to dig an industrial borehole that will cater for 30,000 people.

    “Besides, he vowed to support the university with N100million to inject other projects.

    “Alhaji Dangote has promised to employ 15 professors for the university and pledged to pay their salaries for four years. This will bring development to the state. Academically, this assistance will develop our institution.”

    According to him, during his close to two years administration, 12 projects were completed, 36 were ongoing and four were at a tender stage.

    “Thirty one academic workers were sent for PhD programmes, 22 outside the country and nine within Nigeria. So far, we have nine professors and 14 readers as academic workers. We also have 49 visiting professors,” he said.

  • Dangote to give scholarships to physically-challenged

    Dangote to give scholarships to physically-challenged

    THE President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has pledged to award scholarships to the physically-challenged, who desire education.

    He said this is part of his contributions to empower the less-privileged.

    Dangote said his foundation, the Dangote Foundation, would look into the provision of assistance to the brilliant ones interested in going to higher institutions, but had one disability or the other, which might impair them.

    The business mogul spoke when he received in his office, a visually- impaired, Kayode Ogendengbe, who came to present his B.Sc. degree to him.

    He was sponsored by Dangote, who discovered his potential through the Teens Empowerment and Salvage Initiative (TESI), a non-government organisation, during a programme in Lagos and volunteered to finance his university education; after which Ogedengbe gained admission to the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

    Dangote said one of the things the rich could do to impact on the society was to help the physically-challenged to realise their dreams, adding that everyone had one challenge or the other, “but God has been helping us.”

  • Dangote, Adenuga, others to be honoured with Africa Int’l Achievers Award

    Africa international achievers, among them,Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Group Chairman, Dangote Group; Otunba Mike Adenuga, Founder, Mike Adenuga Foundation; Dr. Raymond Dokpesi,  Chairman Emeritus, DAAR Group; Hon. Justice Maria Do Ceu Silva Monteiro, President, ECOWAS Community Court of Justice are to be honoured in Accra, Ghana.

    The award is been anchored by Africa International Achievers Conference and Awards (AIACA).

    The Chairman, AIACA Organizing Committee/Board of Advisors of MediaStead International Limited, His Grace, Arch-Bishop Dr. Benjamin Obomanu, who described the AIACA as an avenue for African Leaders to converge and discuss on ways to tackle leadership failures and how to get Africa out of the economic quicksand slowing down the continent’s progress.

    He said the award is a way of ensuring motivation for the duplication of achievers and achievements; stressing that it is always good to extend a helping hands when God is helping us.

    As all hands are on deck to ensure a smooth conference and awards at AIACA 2015, we wish our participants and awardees greater successes and the eagle vision to set higher trends for posterity.

    This august and epoch making summit and honour is the brainchild of MediaStead International Limited in conjunction with Africa Elite and Teem Magazines.

    The event which comes up at the M.J Grand Hotel, Accra Ghana,  is designed for a speedy developmental impact that will leapfrog unprecedented socio-economic, cum leadership advancement, an urgent development revolution that appears to be the sine qua non for growth in a continent that direly seeks to attain relevance in the comity of great continents.

  • Manufacturers brace for competition after Dangote’s price cut

    Manufacturers brace for competition after Dangote’s price cut

    Manufacturers of cement are set to take the competition tussle a notch higher, following the slash in the price of the essential commodity by the nation’s largest producer, Dangote Group.

    Dangote Cement, which is also Africa’s largest producer, is said to have cut prices in an attempt to boost cement consumption.

    The price cut to its 3X cement brand by N6 000 ($30.23) per metric tonne, translating to N300 reduction per 50kg bag,  still allows Dangote to achieve strong returns, CEO Dangote Cement, Onne van der Weijde, said in Lagos.

    Meanwhile, a survey across the country showed that distributors and retailers were beginning to implement the new price regime, resulting in gradual decline in its price across the country.

    A retailer in Benin City, Edo State, Sebastian Iwemgiwe, noted that cement which was sold at N1,850 per 50kg bag has, since last week, reduced to N1,650 per bag and is likely to decline further.

    The claim of price reduction was corroborated by other retailers, including Opeloyeru Eniola in Ojodu area of Lagos State, who said: Although I am still selling his old stock, I am aware that the price for the next supply has been reduced.

    [ad id=”403656″]While observers are of the opinion that the ongoing African operation expansion must have given Dangote cement a leeway to bring down domestic price of the product, the cement giant is also reportedly hoping the lower prices will help increase export sales to neighboring nations where it has no presence yet.

    Team head, Chapel Denham, Tajudeen Ibrahim, had in reaction to the reports of price reduction by Dangote Cement said: “We expect the other cement producers such as WAPCO, UNICEM and AshakaCem in the Lafarge Africa Group and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, to cut cement prices, being price-takers in the industry,”

    “The sales volumes of the cement industry may however not rise on the back of the price cut, as the relationship between price and consumption is weak,” said Ibrahim.

    According to the analyst, the drag in infrastructure developments due to government’s weakening fiscal strength and pressured consumer wallets will slow down the demand for building materials, industry watchers say.

    Gross domestic product expanded 2.35 per cent on an annual basis, compared with 3.96 percent a quarter earlier, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS).

  • Dangote donates N100m to Boko Haram victims

    The Dangote Foundation has donated N100 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Mrs Zouera Youssouffou, announced the donation at an advocacy and fund raising ceremony organised by the Daily Trust in Abuja.

    Mrs Youssouffou said the donation was part of the gesture of President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who she said had been passionate about the plight of the IDPs.

    She said the foundation had been involved in similar donations.

    Dangote Foundation was involved in supporting about 5,000 families in the affected region.

    The foundation also donated materials to victims of the 2011 post-election crisis in Kaduna State.

     

     

     

     

  • Dangote builds N160m skill centre in Kogi

    Dangote builds N160m skill centre in Kogi

    The Dangote Group is building an automation skill development centre valued at N160million in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    A statement by the group in Abuja at the weekend said the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, told the government and people of Kogi State that “the state-of-the-art centre is meant to support the development initiatives of the government.”

    He said it would revive and develop technical skills, as well as provide jobs for youths.

    Dangote, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Obajana Cement Plant, Mr. J.V. Gungune, said such centre became necessary in view of the fact that “the Federal Government under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has prioritised technical skill development and empowerment for youths.”

  • Dangote builds N160m skill centre in Kogi

    Dangote builds N160m skill centre in Kogi

    The Dangote Group is building an Automation Skills Development Centre valued at N160million in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    A statement from the group in Abuja over the weekend said President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, told the government and people of Kogi state that “the state-of-the-art skill centre is meant to support the development initiatives of the State Government.”

    He said the Dangote Automation Skills Development Centre will help revive and develop technical skills in the country, as well as provide jobs for the youths.

    Alhaji Dangote who was represented by the Managing Director of the Obajana Cement Plant Mr. J.V. Gungune said such centre has become necessary in view of the fact that: “the Federal Government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has prioritized Technical Skills Development and Empowerment for Nigerian Youths as part of their key focus.”

    Chairman of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) and an Executive Director in the Dangote Group, Engineer Mansur Ahmed, said the Governor of the State, Captain Idris Wada, and the President of the Dangote Group were the brains behind the project, adding that they expected the project, when completed to make Nigerian youths self employed and employable at the same time.

    Speaking, at the Ground Breaking Ceremony on Friday, the Kogi state Governor Idris Wada described the Dangote Group as a worthy partner, adding that the Centre will support the economy of the state by making the youths employable.

    Lead Consultant and CEO of the SkillUp TVET Limited Afolabi Imoukhuede assured that the project will be completed by November.

  • Dangote inaugurates $250m plant in Cameroon

    Dangote inaugurates $250m plant in Cameroon

    Dangote Cement Plc, yesterday, achieved another feat with the inauguration of $250 million (N48.75 billion) cement grinding plant in Douala, Cameroon.

    Dangote Group also laid the foundation stone for a 200 metre jetty in Douala.

    Speaking on the occasion, President/ Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said  the plant, with a capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa), was a great feat in the operations of the company.

    He said: “The plant is our largest greenfield project in a neighbouring country with which we not only share a boundary but also a long history of brotherly relationship dating from our colonial days.”

    He said the company signed the investment agreement for the development and operation of a quarry and cement grinding with the government of Cameroon on Sept. 19, 2011.

    He said massive economic revolution of the Cameroonian government in the power sector, infrastructural development, industrial development and  transportation industry had impacted positively on businesses.

    “We can attest to this as we have been one of the major beneficiaries,” Dangote said.

    He said Dangote Cement first came into Cameroon in 2008 but signed an Investment Agreement with the government in 2011.

    Dangote said the investment had increased the country’s economic value through creation of thousands of jobs; supported the government’s aggressive infrastructural development.

    Its other benefits include; conservation of scarce foreign resources through drastic reduction of importation of cement; creation of revenue for the government through payment of value added tax (VAT), royalties and taxes.

    Dangote said plans were on the way to commence the second phase of the plant which would double its capacity from the current 1.5mmtpa to 3.0 mmtpa.

    He said the company would soon open an additional quarry in the country and inaugurate more than 200 new trucks to enhance service delivery to its customers.

    “Our desire to increase our investment with the Phase 2 project is based on not only the fast growth rate of the Cameroonian economy but also the warm welcome extended to us and the enabling environment created by its government.

    “Our choice of Cameroon for this multi-million dollar investment is strategic because it is the largest economy in Central Africa and well endowed with abundant natural resources,” he said.

    He said the country enjoyed political stability, adequate security and growing development of infrastructure.

    Dangote also said the investment would further strengthen the bilateral ties between Nigeria and Cameroon and fast-track Africa’s economic integration.

    “Africa has the lowest per capita consumption of cement, an important index in measuring development, and only deliberate efforts by Africans to produce more than current requirements to force down prices can remedy the situation,” Dangote said.

    According to him, the company had on Aug. 26, signed a $4.34 billion contract with Sinoma International Engineering Company Ltd., a Chinese construction giant, for the construction of 11 new cement plants in 10 African countries, and Nepal in Asia.

    Dangote said the total capacity of the proposed plants would be 25 mmtpa, projecting that the company’s combined capacity within Africa and outside the continent would hit 100 mmtpa by 2020.

    “In Nigeria, we contributed to the successful transformation of the country from being the biggest importer to a major producer and net exporter of cement,” he added.

    He commended the Nigerian government for the encouragement and nurturing of the company from inception.

    Dangote said  the company owed its existence to the favourable investment policies of the government which encouraged the growth of import substitution industries, especially in areas with comparative advantage like in cement.

    Also speaking, President Paul Biya of Cameroon, lauded Dangote for contributing to the country’s development.

    Biya, who was represented by Mr Philemon Yang, the Prime Minister, said that the company had contributed massively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through the investment.

  • Dangote, Chinese firm sign $4.34b deal for cement plants in 13 countries

    Dangote, Chinese firm sign $4.34b deal for cement plants in 13 countries

    Dangote Cement yesterday signed contracts with Chinese firm, Sinoma International to build cement factories in 13 countries – 12 in Africa and Nepal, an Asian country.

    On completion, 25 million tonnes of cement will be generated annually in what is a revolution the cement sub sector. This will bring the capacity of Dangote cement to 70 million tonnes per annum.

    The $4.34bilion deal was sealed in the presence of ambassadors of some of the beneficiary countries.

    President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, signed for his group while the Chief Executive Officer, Sinoma, Mr. Shen Jun, signed for his company.

    The Chinese firm will execute the construction projects with equipment sourced from Germany.

    Aside Nigeria, whose two new plants at Itori, Ogun State with a combined capacity for six million tonnes are already under construction, a three million tonnes factory will be built in Nepal.

    The African countries that will have the integrated plants are: Ethiopia with 2.50m tonnes, Kenya with two plants and a combined capacity of three million tonnes, Zambia 1.5om tones, Senegal with 1.50m tonnes and Niger with 1.50mtonnes.

    The 1.50m tonne plants to be built in Mali, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana are grinding units.

    Dangote said the a 1.5m tonnes plant in Douala, Cameroon will be inaugurated today.

    Some of the countries to host the new plants already have Dangote plants.

    All the new plants are to be completed within the next 30 months, Mr. Dangote promised, adding that on completion, the capacity of the combined factories will move up to 70 milion tonnes per annum.

    “But our goal is to attain 100million tonnes by 2020,” Dangote declared yesterday.

    According to him, the plants are being built because of the need requirement of the countries.

    He gave an example of Niger Republic which currently imports all its cement requirements despite having in abundance all the raw materials needed to manufacture the product.

    Dangote said: “We want to make Africa self-sufficient in cement production and not to become a dumping ground. We are very focused on what we are doing.”

    Dangote hailed the Nigerian government for providing the enabling environment for the business to thrive, adding that his company and Sinoma had been together for eight years “in spite of the economic recession in the world at this time.”

    He said Nigeria currently has the capacity to export 10m tonnes of cement, adding that this will go higher when the new plants go on stream.

    Jun promised that his company will provide excellent technology in the construction adding that it had completed 16 projects with Dangote.

    He vowed that the high standard which his company is known for will be kept in the execution of the projects being “a leading company in cement production worldwide.”

    With the Dangote CEO at the ceremony are Group Executive Director of Dangote Group, Mr. Devakumar Edwin and the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Olakunle Alake. Three other officials accompanied Mr Jun on behalf of Sinoma.

  • Dangote Foundation boosts healthcare in Katsina

    Dangote Foundation boosts healthcare in Katsina

    As part of efforts to boost healthcare delivery system, Dangote Foundation last week championed a free medical care for the vulnerable and poor Nigerians in Katsina State.

    Justifying the need for the support, the Foundation said it had not just started helping out in the area of health but that the free medical service is a new joint initiative which is a continuation of its efforts aimed at creating wider access to health care for less privileged Nigerians.

    Thousands of ailing people, including sickly elderly and malnourished children alike trooped out to the General Hospital in Kankia Local Government area of the state, venue of the exercise and were treated free.

    The free medical outreach in Katsina State include free consultations, medicines and minor operations; advocacy on health and nutrition to women; as well as training of interns and medical personnels who in turn would offer medical advises to the people.

    The programme which was spearheaded by Dangote Foundation was in collaboration with the Katsina State Government; Give-Back Nigeria, a UK based Charity Organisation and Gachi Development Foundation.

    The state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, who flagged off the three-day medical services expressed appreciation to the Dangote Foundation and its collaborators for the gesture and described it as a service to humanity for which God would surely reward.

    He explained the programmes being mapped out by his admninitsratiuon to tackle health care challenges among his people and said the Dangote Foundation has in no small measure assisted in quickening the health programme. The governor urged other spirited organisation to look in the direction of joining hands with government to ensure the poor also have access to quality health care services.

    In her remark, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mrs. Zouera Youssouffou said the Foundation decided to sponsor the free medical outreach because the health sector is a critical part of the Foundation’s focus in contributing to the upliftment of the society and her people.

    She stated that issues bordering on the health of Nigerians have always been of concern to Dangote Foundation and that was the reason it has been involved in all efforts at ensuring poor Nigerians also benefit from sound health care services.

    “We were very active in the fight against the dreaded Ebola and jointly we defeated it. So also we mounted a lot of campaigns to see that polio was eradicated. We are happy that today, one year down the line no single case of polio has been recorded.

    “This goes to show that collectively we can eradicate most of the disease ravaging our people if we deploy the will. We in Dangote Foundation believe that health is wealth, and economic activity can succeed when the people are sick”, Youssouffou noted while adding that the Foundation would continue to support Nigerian government and the new Katsina state administration.

    Dr Shamsudeen Yahyah, a Director in the Ministry of Health of Katsina State, urged all the contributing agencies to try and sustain such gesture, adding that their support will go a long way in assisting the government in achieving its goals.

    He identified poverty, ignorant as the major causes of diseases in the Northern part of the country.

    Speaking also Dr. Tasiu Suleiman Gachi, the Project Leader said he was impressed by the Dangote Group and other organisations.

    Over the years the Dangote Foundation has injected huge amount of money to the development of the health sector in the country.

    It is currently constructing N440million State-of-the-Art Theatre and Diagnostic Centre at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.

    The Foundation has also disbursed about 600million in the last three years on Routine Immunisation and Primary Healthcare in Kano State alone, as well as the construction of 11 units of primary health care centres across 11 Local Governments.