As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Limited have awarded scholarships to 460 secondary school and tertiary institution students from Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.

The company said the scholarship had become an annual event meant to contribute to the educational development of the people and position them rightly in the scheme of things in Lagos State and Nigeria at large.

The scholarships were presented to 443 secondary school students and 17 tertiary institution students from its host communities around Ibeju-Lekki.

The Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, presented the scholarships to the beneficiaries on Tuesday at an event attended by traditional rulers and government officials in Lagos State.

Edwin said the Dangote Group believes that education is the passport to the future, adding that an investment in knowledge yields the greatest dividends for mankind.

He said the company had over the years supported the Nigerian educational sector by instituting scholarship award programmes.

He said: “This is part of the company’s education intervention initiative for indigenous students of host communities impacted by its businesses.

“In 2019, we executed a pilot of the scholarship programme where 51 secondary school students from our 15 host communities here in Ibeju Lekki were awarded.

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“However, we could not hold the second edition in the year 2020 due to the incidence of COVID-19 and its associated effects not only on businesses but on every household.

“In 2021, 118 secondary school students and 19 tertiary institution students from our host
communities were awarded the scholarship award and after a rigorous screening process
this year, 443 secondary school students and 17 tertiary institution students have qualified
for the scholarship award.”

While congratulating the beneficiaries, Edwin enjoined them to continue to work hard at their studies, strive to achieve excellence in all that they do, and never stop giving their best.

“Your achievements are a testament to your determination, perseverance, and
commitment to excellence, and we are honoured to celebrate your success with you today,” he added.

Edwin encouraged the awardees to make the most of the opportunities and to always strive for excellence.

On his part, the Onilekki of Lekki Land, Oba Liasim Ogunbekun, said the programme was a blessing to the community and thanked Dangote Group.

“We appreciate Dangote Group because this is not their first time but their third scholarship edition to the host communities in Ibeju Lekki.

“I urge the beneficiaries to put in more effort in their academic pursuit and justify the amount being paid for the scholarship.

“We thank the Dangote Group because a lot of improvement have been recorded in the lives of the participants,” Ogunbekun said.

One of the beneficiaries, Raheem Olukayode, thanked Dangote Group for the opportunity to study and become an engineer and impact positively to the society.

“The training has been beneficiary because it supports the less privilege who are interested in furthering theirneducation achieve their dreams in spite of financial challenges.

“The programme is simply going to positively affect the development of Ibeju-Lekki in future because we are going to have more engineers emerging from this area.

“We were told that after level three training, the best of us will be given job opportunity to work with Dangote Group so we are encouraged to give our best to win the slot,” Olukayode said.

Also speaking, the Head Girl of Community Senior High School, Ibeju Lekki, Sano Omolere, said the scholarship had assisted their parents in supporting their education.

“For instance, some students have relented in their effort to further in their education because of lack of money.

“However, this scholarship has supported our parents provide us with school fees and books that have encouraged a lot of us to do better in class,” she said.

The Star