Yaounde: Dangote Cement Cameroon donates boreholes to orphanages.

The Dangote Cement Cameroon Head of Institutional Relations, Sylvain Ada Onguene, chaired the ceremony to symbolically hand over the boreholes on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Dangote Cement Cameroon, His Majesty Mbouck Bertrand.

The ceremony was attended by Mfoundi Divisional Delegate for Social Affairs, traditional leader and the population around the Divin Orphanage. 

During the event, the representative of the CEO Dangote Cement Cameroon explained that the company’s motivation for the donation aligns with the vision of the Founder and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, which is to assist communities, the less privileged and the poor in the society.

Onguene stressed that Mbouk Bertrand as the CEO of Dangote Cement Cameroon, is through the projects, driving the vision of the Founder and President of the Dangote Group  vision, in Cameroon.

“We are here because Dangote Cement Cameroon has been very well received by the Cameroonian people. We didn't need a lot of advertising like others [companies] to be accepted by the Cameroonian people. And in return, with the vision of our president El Hadj Aliko Dangote, the group's president, his vision is to supply cement to the deepest parts of our villages and also to contribute to supporting the people,” Onguene stated. 

He equally noted that the donations come in the wake of the company tenth anniversary on Cameroon soil. The Dangote official said since the company’s inauguration in Cameroon in 2015, it has carried out several social projects out across the country.

She cited projects including the construction of classrooms, community multipurpose halls, boreholes, donation of benches amongst others.  

“We have completed ten projects on the occasion of our tenth anniversary in all ten regions of Cameroon. So, it is no coincidence that we are here,” Onguene told those present at the ceremony. 

He then reassured that Dangote Cement Cameroon, under the impetus of Mbouck Bertrand, is resolute to implementing the visions and policies of the Dangote Group president in responding to societal needs and supporting communities and the underprivileged like orphans. 

“At the moment, Dangote has taken on students, sent them for training in Senegal, and they are currently following a course within our company where they will be integrated directly. So you understand that we have a vision,” he added. 

Gift not limited to targeted orphanages

According to Dangote official, the boreholes, though constructed within the premises of both orphanages, will not only serve the orphans but also the surround communities. He said it is in this light that taps have been connected outside the orphanages to help succour the water needs of the population.

He then called for the judicious and sustainable use of the water projects. 

“When I arrived here in Medong and Oyom-abang, I insisted that the taps be installed outside to show you how much we care about everyone,” he stated. 

He added that: “So don't come to the orphanage to say that Dangote came and installed taps here, give us water at 2am. No, everything should be regulated with the orphanage, because it must be said, it is the orphanages that requested it”. 

Beneficiaries laud Dangote

The Founder of Divin Orphanage, Mayag Serge, thanked Dangote for the water projects. He added that the borehole not only brings safety and security to the children of Divin Orphanage but also symbolizes hope for a better future to the society

“As we always say, water is life and truely so. We were traveling long distances to fetch water for nearly 50-orphaned children. It was really very difficult and it made our task a little more difficult. Now that we have this gem, which was given to us by Dangote Cements, we are really happy,” he detailed, stressing that the action reflects the humanism at the heart of the company’s actions in Cameroon.

On her part, the representative of Good Shepherd Orphanage, Peg Yvette, narrated that prior to the donation, they faced several challenges to have water at the orphanage.

“We were going several kilometers to get water and sometimes people would even send us away that we were dirtying their waters. So, the children could not bathe before going to school, could not wash their dresses properly and were often late to school,” she told The Guardian Post. 

While expressing gratitude to Dangote Cement, she pleaded for more support to alleviate their sufferings. Peg Yvette cited challenges faced at the Good Shepherd Orphanage including storage and power supply problems.

“We have so much heat in Cameroon and perishables like fish easily gets bad because we don't really have storages like fridges or refrigerators… also electricity in Cameroon is another issue so we need things like power generator so that children can read and prepare for their exams which are always around,” she said. 

Pioneering premium quality cement

It is worth mentioning that Dangote Cement Cameroon has a 1.5 million tonnes per annum plant in Douala. Dangote Cement has set new standards by pioneering the 42.5R grade ‘Dangote 3X Cement’, which means “Xtra strong, Xtra life and Xtra yield” is designed to give more value to the end users. 

The Dangote 3X Cement, which comes in a 50Kg bag, is primarily aimed at preventing construction collapses due to usage of lower-grade cement apart from strengthening the quality of the brand.

Its second variety is the Dangote Falcon, a CEM II 32.5R grade cement, designed for versatile, everyday construction applications like block laying, plastering, and screeding. Introduced in 2021, it is a cost-effective, rapid hardening, and eco-friendly (lower carbon emissions) alternative to the 3X 42.5R grade.