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| L-R: Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Ravindra Singhvi; Chief of Staff to the Adamawa State Governor, Prof. Maxwell Gidado; Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Crowder Seth and President/CE Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote at the Flag-off ceremony of 2022/2023 Crushing Season and Outgrower Scheme Awards at Dangote Sugar Refinery in Numan, Adamawa State |
Speaking at the Flag off Ceremony of the 2022/2023 Crushing
Season and Outgrower Scheme Awards in Numan, Adamawa State, Dangote said the
company is making massive investments in Adamawa State through the expansion of
DSR Numan sugar refining capacity from 3,000 tons of cane per day (tcd) to
6,000 tcd, 9,800 tcd and to 15,000 tcd.
Noting that increasing the sugar refining capacity will
require a corresponding increase in sugarcane production capacity, he revealed
that the company has concluded plans to increase its sugar plantation from the
current land area under cane production of about 8,700 hectares in 2022 to
about 24,200 hectares within the next 7 years.
He also assured that the company will double its scholarship
and empowerment schemes in its host communities.
“We will continue to introduce more initiatives to support
our host communities. Through these initiatives and our numerous Corporate Social
Responsibility activities which are numerous to mention, DSR Numan will be able
to touch the lives of the people, bringing social, economic, and
infrastructural development to our host communities.”
He said: “We are thus committing over $700 million to our
investment in the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) to enable us to put in
place needed infrastructure for the eventual commencement of full-scale
production,” he said.
Dangote further assured that Dangote Sugar will change the
trajectory by making Nigeria self-sufficient in the sector.
Already, the company noted that it has spent billions of
naira in developing infrastructural facilities for host communities.
Speaking, also at the event, the Minister of Industry,
Trade, and Investment Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo described the Dangote Refinery as
the biggest contributor to the sugar development stride of the Federal
Government.
The Minister also commended Aliko Dangote and the Management
staff of Dangote Sugar for their massive support through the company’s
corporate social responsibility scheme which he said should be highly
commended.
He said Agencies under his ministry will partner with the
company to provide the technical know-how that will support the Dangote
empowerment schemes in the host communities.
In the same vein, Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri
who was represented by his Deputy Crowther Seth said he was amazed by the
social-economic transformation carried out by the Dangote Group, adding that it
is monumental. He assured the company of the support of the state government
and enjoined other corporate bodies to imbibe Dangote’s spirit of job creation
across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Hama
Bachama Dr. Daniel Shaga Ismail
described Dangote as God-sent and pledged that his people would continue to
support the company.
Aliko Dangote further announced a Free Education for all the
students of Dangote Sugar Refinery High School, among other scholarship winners
announced.
The overall best Outgrower farmer, Christiana Rufus thanked
the company and promised not to relent in her effort.
Six farmers mostly women emerged as overall best farmers in
the contest.