The Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Mr Azad Nawabuddin, has been commended by host communities for his outstanding commitment to community development and corporate social responsibility.
In a statement released by the company on Wednesday, community leaders and key stakeholders praised Nawabuddin’s leadership for the timely implementation of the Community Development Agreement (CDA) and the consistent rollout of impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
According to the communities, the programmes have strengthened relationships, improved social infrastructure and promoted sustainable cooperation between Dangote Cement and its host communities.
The Bajana of Obajana, Idowu Isenibi, expressed appreciation to the Plant Director, the company’s Vice President, Devakumar V. G. Edwin, and the Group President, Aliko Dangote, for their unwavering support through various development programmes. He noted that Dangote Cement’s CSR initiatives are coordinated through a structured Social Performance Department, designed to address community needs and drive sustainable growth.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of Oyo Community, Abraham Paul, praised Nawabuddin for what he described as “uncommon and commendable support,” particularly in facilitating the rehabilitation of vandalised 33kVA electricity lines supplying the community.
While acknowledging some operational challenges, Paul expressed optimism that sustained collaboration and dialogue would help resolve outstanding issues for the mutual benefit of the company and its host communities.
Similarly, the Baalo of Oyo Community, Solomon Obahawu, represented by his aide, Mr David Afolabi, Financial Secretary of the Oyo Community and Acting Director of the Parents–Teachers Association for local schools, commended Dangote Cement’s contributions to social welfare and development.
Afolabi highlighted the company’s support for human capital development through annual scholarships, women enterprise empowerment, farmers’ assistance programmes and the provision of social infrastructure such as street lighting and school construction projects.
He further disclosed that several impactful projects were completed in 2025, including the employment of 20 local security personnel, installation of 50 solar-powered streetlights, construction of drainage systems, and the conversion of three motorised boreholes to solar-powered water systems to mitigate power supply challenges.
In his response, Nawabuddin stated that the company had also implemented several social initiatives, including Farmers Assistance Grants for Oyo and Iwaa communities, vocational skills training programmes, Market Women Assistance Grants, cooperative funding across the four host communities, and the construction of security houses to support community policing.
The General Manager, Social Performance, Prince Ademola Adeyemi, said plans were underway to officially commission and hand over completed projects in the four catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata, following improvements in the security situation.
He also revealed that Dangote Cement has commenced implementation of the CDA signed with the Jakura community, starting with an electrification project.
Through these sustained initiatives, Dangote Cement Plc, under Nawabuddin’s leadership, continues to set a strong benchmark for corporate citizenship, leveraging CSR programmes to improve livelihoods, strengthen infrastructure and enhance the overall well-being of its host communities.
