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.

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

Engr. Nawabuddin 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.”

According to him, 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,” he added.

Also speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the graduation ceremony, he said: “When a community feeds itself, it strengthens not only its economy but its sense of identity and pride.”

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

He said: “We don’t Lord ourself on the communities. We jointly agree to carry out this CSR programme. We invest proactively 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.”

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