Dangote Cement Plc has taken its campaign against building collapse to Oyo State, where it conducted practical training and demonstration of the process for the production of quality blocks. The company also donated tools and other materials to block makers in the state to assist them in the production of quality blocks.

“This,” according to a statement by Dangote Cement, “is in furtherance of our campaign against incessant building collapse in the country.”

The programme training being held in partnership with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the Council of Registered Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) berthed at the Oyo State capital, Ibadan, over the weekend.

Explaining the reason behind the initiative, the South West Regional Head of Dangote Cement, Funmi Sani, said Dangote Cement is concerned about the rising cases of building collapse with its attendant loss of lives, most of which are traceable to the use of low quality material especially blocks. She expressed the hope that the forum would enable the stakeholders to address the problem.

In his presentation, Johnson Olaniyi, the Regional Manager, Sales and Marketing for Dangote Cement, adduced some reasons for the production of substandard blocks. He identified inadequate manpower, poor funding, inappropriate mix of materials and the greed as factors. He said this is the main reason why the company decided to empower the block makers by giving them relevant tools.

In his remarks, the SON representative, Engineer Ali Olayinka, commended Dangote Cement for the initiative, which he wants to be extended to other industry players.

News Express reports that Dangote Cement is targeting reaching upwards of 9,000 block makers across the country this year.

•Photo shows Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote.