ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has pleaded with the President, Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote, to establish a cement factory in the state.
He made the plea when he received Dangote who led members of his Foundation to a courtesy visit at the Government House Bauchi.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that Dangote and his team were in Bauchi to flag-off the empowerment of 20,000 women across the 20 local government areas of the state by the Dangote Foundation.
The governor who told his guests that Bauchi state has the highest deposit of limestone giving a possibility of building the biggest cement factory in Nigeria and in Africa especially in Gwana area of Bauchi state.
He said that before he came into office, some of those potentials were looked into by his predecessors pointing out that some loosed Memorandums of Understanding were signed but they are not binding.
He expressed confidence in the ability of Dangote to set up a large cement factory in the country in the state describing him as his mentor and elder brother even as he assured of a conducive and peaceful atmosphere for him to do business in the state.
Governor Mohammed said: “We know the pedigree of Dangote Group, once they set out to do something, they do it scientifically and systematically.
“I am pleading with you to come and look at what we have here on your own. We have peace in Bauchi, there is no kidnapping or banditary here, nobody will touch you in Bauchi, we will definitely, by the grace of God protect you and your investment will be protected in Bauchi because it is the most peaceful state in Northern Nigeria.
“We’re not just doing with the don’t of prayer alone, yes, it is God that makes everything possible but we are working very hard to make sure that we protect our enviable place in Nigeria.
“With peace, investment will thrive. Please, com and establish a cement factory in Bauchi so that our people can have work to do. We’re not going to give you so many conditions, community issues will be dealt with by the government and we assure you that you will have minimal problems with whatever you need to do.
“Aliko is my mentor, my brother, not my friend but my elder brother. At the end of the day, we will leave legacies and landmarks behind that will be mutually beneficial.”
Meanwhile, the President and Founder of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF)Aliko Dangote has said that his organization is empowering no fewer than 20,000 vulnerable women with N200 million micro-grant for socioeconomic development.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall, Bauchi, the President and Founder of the foundation, Aliko Dangote, that 1,000 beneficiaries will be drawn from each of the 20 local governments of the State .
Dangote who was represented by the Chief Executive Director Dangote Foundation, Engineer Masur Ahmed, said that each beneficiary will receive N10,000 as start-up capital.
He said that the initiative was initiated two years ago by the Foundation, to empower 1,000 vulnerable women in each of the 774 Local governments across the country.
He explained that so far, Bauchi is the 13th state in the country to benefit from the grant.
Dangote said: “The Micro-grants programme is a major component of the Economic Empowerment pillar of the Foundation. It provides disadvantaged and vulnerable women with a one-off, unconditional N10,000.00 cash transfer to boost their household income generation, it will help reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs.”
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