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.

•Photo shows Dangote.

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