Global Union describes Dangote as a relief from negatives about Africa

For his strategic investments across African countries and creating thousands of jobs, the Global Organised Labour under the aegis of African Industrial Global Union has commended the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for his investment patriotism in Africa.

The body at a meeting in Lagos called for special recognition for the African entrepreneur describing him as a success story from African soil for which African countries must be proud of.

Speaking at a network meeting on unionization in Dangote Group, organised by Industrial Global Union Africa Region in Lagos, Union leaders one after another said Dangote has offered a relief to African from the negative narratives the western countries latched on to discredit Africa and her people.

They stated that much as an African could so patriotic as to be dotting African soil with billion of dollars investments to create jobs and reduce poverty, he needs to be given special recognition to motivate others to tow similar line.

Relishing on the prospective of an African country hosting the single largest Refinery and Petrochemicals train project, the union leaders said it was planning in their next African meeting to bring the business mogul to address global union leaders.

Fabian Nkomo, regional secretary, sub-Saharan Africa, said the body cherished the business acumen of Dangote and would like to work closely with him so that as he creates jobs, the union could also partner to ensure job quality is maintained.

Dangote Group was commended for the strong network of branches across the Africa continent; Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Congo, Cameroun, Kenya, Ethiopia among others.

Aremu added that it was time Dangote group entered into mutually rewarding engagement with relevant unions with a view to unionization even as he called on trade unions to support business through improved productivity.

He alluded to the $12 billion dollar Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertilizer projects, which he said would be a revolution of the Nigerian industrial space when completed.

As partners in progress, Aremu pledges the support and cooperation of Industrial Global to ensure business-friendly unionisation of the Dangote workers.

He nevertheless cautioned the unions involved to be proactive and strategic in approaching the exercise saying, “We need to show that we are partners to improve on the businesses of Aliko because we are talking of unionization because there is an investment in which workers are engaged. If there are no businesses, we can’t be talking of unionism.

“So first and foremost, we must be seen to be part of forces that are protecting investments. We are not business killers, if anything we are adding values. So we cherish him as one of the few Nigerians making a good story out of Nigeria and Africa and would like to collaborate with him.

Joshua Bassey