PRESIDENT of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has garnered a fresh round of accolades as northern governors and monarchs describe the N15billion Aliko Dangote Food Intervention Scheme as a monumental and impactful process.
The Governors of Nasarawa and Benue States joined their peers across Nigeria to commend the effort of Dangote through his Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF).
Speaking weekend at the commencement of the distribution of products under the Food Intervention Programme in the State, Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, lauded Mr. Dangote, for what he described as his multifaceted philanthropic efforts, which are benefiting the poor and vulnerable populace of the state.
The Governor who was represented at the event by a Senior Special Assistant, Abah Isaiah, thanked the Aliko Dangote Foundation for supporting the state with twenty thousand bags of 10kg rice.
He said a committee was set up to ensure that the rice palliative reaches the poor, vulnerable and all the Local Government Areas in the state, adding that non-governmental as well as faith-based organisations are part of the distribution team in the state.
Other members of the distribution committee, he said, include: Foundation for Justice, Development and Peace; First Step Action for Children Initiative; Benue State Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); National Orientation Agency (NOA), Benue Directorate; and Islamic Charity.
The Governor said the food intervention would support Benue State, even as many of its citizens are currently living in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, just as he said most of them have not been able to return to their farms.
He commended Dangote for creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs through the Dangote Cement Plant in Gboko, saying job creation and economic activities are precursors to peace and stability.
While urging host communities to support the company, he added: “We would do everything possible to make sure that Dangote succeeds in Benue. I also want to urge you to support this company,” he said.
“As you can see there is a cordial relationship between the Dangote Cement Plc and the host communities. You can see how Dangote staff and host communities have been relating with each other,” he added.
He urged the company not to relent, but to step up its charity work in the state, adding that there are several other business opportunities in the state.
In the same vein, speaking at the flag-off of the distribution of the food items in Lafiya, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, said the intervention would ‘undoubtedly’ ease the economic hardship being faced by many Nigerians.
Speaking earlier, representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and Deputy General Manager Social Performance and Community Relations, Dr. Ivase Eugene, said the company was sharing one million bags of 10kg rice across all the Local Government Areas of the country.
He said the Foundation had earmarked N15billion for the intervention scheme that was flagged off in Kano and Lagos States during the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan.
General Manager, Human Asset Management (HAM) of the Dangote Cement Plant Gboko, Mr. Jonathan Kunde, commended the communities for being very peaceful and supportive over the years.
He assured that there are many other interventional schemes lined up for the communities.
Representative of the host communities, Zaki Atoo Mande, a Monarch, pledged the support of the communities towards the continuous realisation of hitch-free mining and production activities.
Representative of the Governor of Nasarawa State, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, had announced the donation, noting that each LGA of the State was allocated 2,000 bags apart from Karu and Lafia which were allocated 2,500 bags each.
The Deputy Governor commended Aliko Dangote, describing him as the Father of Charity in Nigeria.
Emir of Tunga in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Shaibu, said: “The Aliko Dangote Foundation is not only a gift to Nasarawa State, but to all Nigerians.”
The Emir said the ADF’s National Food Intervention Programme is supporting the government to cushion the impact of economic hardship being experienced in the country.
The Foundation had recently donated a total of 30,000 bags of 10kg rice to Nasarawa State.
A Monarch and the District Head of Tunga Ibrahim Galadima described Dangote as God’s gift, praying God to continue to support him.
In the same vein, Adamawa State has received its share of the Million 10Kg Rice bags being distributed by Aliko Dangote Foundation nationwide.
Thirty-five thousand beneficiaries, mostly vulnerable and disadvantaged persons have benefited from the support meant to curb hunger due to the current economic situation in the country.
Chief Operating Officer of the Dangote Sugar Refinery Numan, Adamawa State, Abdullahi Bello Dan Musa said the distribution took place successfully across the zones and the exercise is almost completed, while the distribution of the commodity was ongoing in Taraba State.
He disclosed that the Foundation partnered community leaders in Adamawa to ensure that the commodity gets to the intended beneficiaries.
Recall that the Foundation had distributed thousands of bags of rice to beneficiaries and vulnerable Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with at least 48 charity organisations and orphanages involved in the process.
The company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, said the food initiative represents a continuation of the Foundation’s commitment to supporting the government and the Nigerian populace in alleviating economic hardship within the country.