Dangote Cement Obajana graduates 40 In fish farming, entrepreneurship

Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, has graduated no fewer than 40 participants from its host communities following a comprehensive training programme in fish farming and entrepreneurship.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Federal Government, the Kogi State Government, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), as well as traditional rulers and other key stakeholders.

The beneficiaries, mostly women, were drawn from the host communities of Iwaa, Oyo, Obajana and Apata.

This scheme builds on a series of previous community empowerment programmes, including training in poultry production, solar entrepreneurship, and fashion design, among others.

Azad Nawabuddin , the Plant Director,, described the skills acquisition programme as a strategic scheme aimed at promoting job creation and driving overall economic development within the host communities.

He said: “In learning the art and business of fish farming, you have embraced a cycle of life that teaches responsibility. You nurture, you wait, you adapt, and in time, you harvest. This mirrors the journey of community development itself: it is not built in a day, but through consistent effort, shared knowledge, and collective commitment.

“Fish farming does not stand alone. It creates ripples by providing food for families, income for households, and opportunities for others.

‘One fishpond can support a network: feed suppliers, transporters, market women, and processors. In this way, what begins as an individual skill becomes a communal asset”.

“When a community feeds itself, it strengthens not only its economy but its sense of identity and pride”.

Speaking at the event,Prince Ademola Adeyemi , General Manager and Head of the Social Performance Department at Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, , said the event was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) Scheme of the company.

He said: “We don’t Lord our self on the communities. We jointly agree to carry out this CSR programme. We invest pro actively in skills, in people, and in ideas that can uplift communities. Through partnerships like the one we have with the Industrial Training Fund, we ensure that our interventions are not just well -intentioned, but impactful and sustainable”.

Adeyemi said the fish farming skill will reduce dependence on white collar or company job and replaces it with self -sufficiency.

He said: “At Dangote Cement Plc, we remain steadfast in our commitment to being not just a business, but a responsible partner in progress, dedicated to the growth, stability, and prosperity of our host communities”.

Representative of the Technical Adviser on CSR to the Kogi State Governor,  Akinola Oluropo Babatunde, commended the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for his support for communities in Kogi State, as he urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the opportunity, and impact positively on their communities.

“We are proud of Alhaji Aliko Dangote. We are proud of his managers at Obajana,” he said.

Representative of the Executive Chairman of the Lokoja Local Government,. Abubakar Muhammad, said the Council will continue to partner with the company in ensuring the sustainability of the peaceful co -existence between the company and host communities.

Muhammad, who is the Secretary of the Lokoja Local Government Council, said government can only succeed when it collaborates with critical stakeholders like the Dangote Cement Plc.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students, Regina Idowu, described the training as a life changing experience, even as she thanked the company for the opportunity.