Dangote Cement Plc has significantly expanded its community engagement initiatives in Benue State, particularly with the recent launch of a comprehensive Farmers Empowerment Programme. This groundbreaking initiative, described as both 'historic and innovative' by Johnson Kor, the General Manager, Social Performance, aims to equip 50 selected farmers with the necessary resources and knowledge to cultivate subsistence and cash crops on a commercial scale. Benue State is widely recognized as the 'food basket of the nation,' making this program particularly impactful for enhancing local agricultural productivity and economic self-sufficiency.

The beneficiaries of this pioneering program were meticulously chosen from Dangote Cement’s host communities within the Gboko Local Council Area of Benue State, specifically from its six catchment areas. This targeted approach ensures that the support reaches those directly within the company's operational vicinity. According to Kor, the implementation of such projects aligns precisely with the commitments outlined in the extant Community Development Agreement (CDA), which was formally signed with the immediate host communities in December 2024. He emphasized that the Farmers Empowerment Programme marks the first major initiative to be launched since the signing of this crucial agreement, underscoring the company's dedication to mutual development.

This latest empowerment scheme follows a series of impactful community-focused endeavors by Dangote Cement in Benue State. Just two months prior, the company provided cash grants to businesswomen in Gboko communities, intending to stimulate and deepen local business activities. Additionally, Dangote Cement had previously demonstrated its commitment to education by increasing bursary payments to students from host communities by more than 100 percent, highlighting a holistic approach to community development that addresses various socio-economic facets.

Further details regarding the support for the farmers were provided by Munusamy Murugan, the Plant Director of Dangote Cement’s Gboko Plant, whose remarks were delivered by Soom Kiishi, the Head of the Production Department. Murugan confirmed that the company would extend substantial material support to the participating farmers, including the provision of essential agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, agrochemicals, Knapsack Sprayers, and a diverse range of high-quality seedlings. He clarified that while this represents the first batch of beneficiaries, it is merely the beginning of a larger, ongoing commitment. The company envisions this as an annual event, although the specific focus or type of empowerment program may evolve in future years, depending on the preferences and needs of the benefiting communities, ensuring adaptability and responsiveness to local requirements.