The Dangote Foundation – the charity
arm of Dangote Group – has doled
out a staggering N20 billion for pro-
poor causes in two years. It also
injected over N1 billion to the cause of
education in the same period in
addition to the Dangote Group
donating N2.5 billion to help mitigate
the impact of last year’s flooding
across the country.
A statement from the Dangote Group
highlighting these contributions said
that the Group has meanwhile turned
its attention to environmental issues
even as the Foundation is currently
supporting the Nigerian Government
in its fight against the malaria scourge.
As part of its effort in tackling
environmental problems bedeviling
Nigeria, the Dangote Group had last
week partnered with the country’s
Ministry of Environment and
sponsored the 9th National Council
on Environment in Makurdi, capital of
Benue State, North-Central Nigeria.
The statement said the Group decided
to sponsor the Council, held May 6-7,
given its penchant and track record
for environmental issues.
“We are an environment friendly
group. Our factories are run within
the global acceptable standard. The
Dangote Cement’s emission level of
30mg is far below that of the EU which
is 50mg,” the statement said.
It spoke of Dangote Cement’s
“uncompromising investments in
state-of-the-art bag filters at all its
plants to ensure minimal dust
emissions, making Dangote one of the
industry’s greenest cement companies
not only in Nigeria but across Africa.”
“Pollution control is accorded top
priority with regular monitoring with
action plans put in place to reduce
emissions in tune with national and
international statutory control
guidelines,” the statement said.
Tanzanian Minister of Environment,
Terezya Pius Louga Huvisa, who
recently visited Dangote Cement
plants, had commended the Group
for the low emission level at its plants
and efforts being made to green its
operational areas.
Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Mrs.
Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, speaking at
the 9th National Council on
Environment, thanked Dangote Group
for supporting the cause of
environment, while singling out the
Group’s President Aliko Dangote for
commendation.
She said President Goodluck Jonathan
has approved N10 billion for the
implementation of the Great Green
Wall (GGW) programme.
The minister disclosed that the Federal
Government had begun full
implementation of the United Nations
Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation
(REDD+) programme.
On his part, Benue State Governor
Gabriel Suswam called on the Federal
Government to fulfill its promise to
dredge both River Benue and River
Katsina-Ala. The project, which was
started by former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, is aimed at addressing
desertification in eleven frontline
states in the North. The GGW also
involves the establishment of a
greenbelt covering 1,500km from
Dandi Arewa Local Government Area
of Kebbi State to Marte of Borno State.
Participants at the Council on
Environment which had as theme
“Green Economy: A Panacea for
Sustainable Development,” also
eulogised Dangote’s use of branding
materials that added grandeur and
colour to the event. Last month,
Dangote disbursed $500,000 to the
UNICEF to help in the fight against
measles outbreak in some parts of the
country.
Source News Express