Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Limited have awarded scholarships to 460 students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions from its host communities in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.
The company in a statement said the move was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes to contribute to the development of people in the host communities.
The statement also said the scholarships would help position the beneficiaries rightly in the scheme of things in Lagos State and Nigeria, adding that the scholarships had become an annual event.
At the presentation of the scholarships to 443 secondary school students and 17 tertiary institution students, the Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Dangote Group, Mr Devakumar Edwin, said the Dangote Group believed that education “is the passport to the future”, adding that an investment in knowledge would yield the greatest dividends for mankind.
Edwin said, “The company has over the years supported the Nigerian educational sector by instituting scholarship award programmes.
“This is part of the company’s education intervention initiative for indigenous students of host communities impacted by its businesses.
“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 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.
“This year, 443 secondary school students and 17 tertiary institution students qualified for the scholarship award.”
While congratulating the beneficiaries, he enjoined them to continue to work hard at their studies, strive to achieve excellence in all that they do, and never stop giving their best.”
The traditional ruler of Lekki, Onilekki of Lekki Land, Oba Liasim Ogunbekun, who was at the event along with other leaders in the area, as well as top government officials, said the programme was a blessing to the community.
He said, “We appreciate Dangote Group because this is 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.”
One of the beneficiaries of the City & Guilds Engineering training programme, Raheem Olukayode, thanked Dangote Group for the opportunity to study, become an engineer and impact positively to the society.
Also, the Head Girl of Community Senior High School, Magbon Segun, Ibeju Lekki, Sano Omolere, said the scholarship had assisted their parents in supporting their education.
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