Senior staff union of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has honoured Aliko Dangote, president/chief executive, Dangote Group, and his Savannah Sugar Company with awards in recognition of his efforts at job creation, in Abuja at the weekend.
From records, the Dangote Group is the second largest employer of labour outside government in Nigeria. Last month, the Group announced that it was creating 210,000 jobs between now and 2018 in the agricultural sector with its diversification in rice cultivation and tomatoes paste production.
While honouring him with an ‘Excellence Award in Major Employment,’ the TUC described Dangote as, “a living example of generosity, grace and fortitude.” The Savannah Sugar Company, a company under the Dangote Group, also bagged the Most Labour Friendly Employer award.
According to Bobboi Bala Kaigama, president-general, TUC, “Dangote is obviously a man with many feathers attached to his many caps of achievements. Having recorded immense success in business, he has always endeavoured to give back to society. He is a well-known philanthropist who donates generously towards many causes.
“Beyond the shores of Nigeria, Aliko Dangote has also recorded milestones in philanthropy, which are too numerous to mention.”
Speaking about the Savannah Sugar, the TUC in its citation said, “CSR of the company includes building primary and secondary schools for the children of staff and the host communities as well as the provision of free transportation for the children.”
To him, should Nigeria have two of Dangote, the nation’s economy would have fared better as the foremost entrepreneur has continued to use his God-given resources to create jobs and put food on the table of many.
Noting that Dangote business sense needs to be emulated by others, the labour leader urged politicians and other businessmen who took their money out of the country to benefit other economies unsolicited, should bring it back home to open industries.
Founder of the Dantata Group, late Alhaji Abdulkadir Dantata also bagged an ‘Excellent Exemplary Service in the Promotion of Human Development and Entrepreneurship’ award.
Kaigama said the award was meant to further encourage both regulators and operators of the Nigerian economy, saying the Congress planned a $1 billion Economic Development Fund for its Economic Agenda, describing the strategy as ‘TUC Economy.’
Chairman of the occasion, Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, who was represented by Musa John, said the activities of TUC would help ginger the country’s economy.
Present at the occasion were: Chairman of Jaiz Bank, Umar Mutallab; Oluremi Tinubu, a senator; Governor of Ogun State Ibikunle Amosun; Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance; Ayuba Wabba, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress; Stella Oduah, a senator; Chinelo Anohu-Amazi, director-general of PENCOM; former TUC president, Peter Esele, among others.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
