News
Kogi Communities, Employees Bid Farewell to Dangote Cement Plant Director After 10 Years of Stellar Service
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Community leaders, members and colleagues alike bid farewell to Mr. JV Gungune, the Director of the Dangote Cement Plant in Obajana, Kogi State, after a decade of service.
KANO FOCUS reports that Mr. Gungune, described as a mentor and consummate professional, leaves behind a legacy of dedication and leadership.
Ademola Adeyemi, the General Manager of Special Duties and Community Relations at the plant, lauded Mr. Gungune’s role in fostering a robust relationship between the company and the surrounding communities.
“Mr. Gungune has been a mentor and always supportive. He ensured that the company enjoyed a robust relationship with the four catchment communities in Kogi State,” remarked Mr. Adeyemi.
Reflecting on Mr. Gungune’s departure, Mr. Abubakar Idoko, a manager at the Special Duties and Community Relations Department, added, “Mr. Gungune is a thoroughbred professional. You learn a lot from him. He is also an easygoing person. We would surely miss him.”
Mr. Yusuf Jumare of the Admin Department described Mr. Gungune as a “visionary leader, and one who prioritized staff wellbeing and welfare. It is always difficult to say goodbye to a dedicated leader.”
The Olu of Apata,
HRH Oba (Dr.) Fredrick D. Balogun, said Mr. Gungune was highly respected in the communities, given his pedigree of teamwork and support through the Dangote Cement plant, Obajana.
The Bajana of Obajana, Dr. (Engr) Idowu Isenibi, acknowledged Mr. Gungune’s impact, saying, “through his approvals, many projects and developmental strides were achieved.”
Adding to the sentiments, the Oba of Oyo, Oba Solomon Obahawu, reminisced, “the outgone Plant Director became a brother and a friend.”
In welcoming the new Plant Director, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, HRH Oba (Dr.) Balogun urged him to build on Mr. Gungune’s achievements.
Until his recent appointment, Nawabuddin, who is a certified chemical engineer, was the Plant Director of the Dangote Cement Ibese Plant since 2019.
With his extensive experience spanning over three decades in the cement industry, Mr. Nawabuddin is poised to lead the Dangote Cement Plant in Obajana to new heights of success and prosperity.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, has commended the Federal High Court in Kano for sentencing a 20-year-old drug suspect, Muhammad Maharazu, to 15 years imprisonment.
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer NDLEA Kano Strategic Command Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari on Thursday, the command said the conviction followed Maharazu’s arrest on February 14, 2026, at the notorious Filin Idi drug den in Kano.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Commander’s Special Joint Task Force in possession of various illicit substances, including Diazepam tablets. During the operation, Maharazu allegedly produced a knife in an attempt to attack officers while trying to evade arrest but was swiftly disarmed and taken into custody.
The agency said Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kano, sentenced the convict to 15 years imprisonment on April 15, 2026, with no option of fine. The sentence is to take effect from the date of judgment.
Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Kano Commander, Dahiru Yahaya Lawal, described the judgment as decisive and a strong warning to drug offenders.
“This conviction sends a clear message that no amount of threats or violence will deter our officers from carrying out their mandate. Kano will not be a safe haven for drug traffickers,” he said.
The command added that the custodial sentence would serve as a deterrent to others involved in drug trafficking or those who resort to violence to resist arrest.
It also called on members of the public to continue supporting the agency’s efforts in tackling substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, emphasizing that the fight against drug-related crimes requires collective responsibility.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Africa’s leading conglomerate will feature its flagship Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company at the 2026 Nasarawa Trade Fair, which will be officially declared open by the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on April 20.
KANO FOCUS reports that Dangote Industries Limited will also showcase its Vision 2030, which focuses on driving innovation and Africa’s industrialization.
The Dangote Group is the major sponsor of the Nasarawa Trade Fair and Exhibition (NASTFE) with the theme: Unlocking Industrial Synergy: Deepening the Value Chain and Driving Inclusive Growth in Nasarawa State.
A statement from the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, said other Strategic Business Units of the company will be participating at the annual event in the state capital, Lafia.
Anthony Chiejina stated that products to be featured at the Fair will include those from the Group’s Strategic Business Units, such as Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, Dangote Salt and seasonings, Dangote SinoTruk, Dangote Packaging, and Dangote Fertiliser.
The statement quoted the Regional Director/Senior Adviser to Dangote Group President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, as saying that Nasarawa State is key to the Group’s overall investment in Africa.
“It is home to Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL). The sugar project, when completed, will be one of the biggest sugar investments in Africa,” she said.
Mrs. Wali-Abdurrahman noted that the Trade Fair provides a valuable platform for the company to engage with key stakeholders and Nigerians interested in exploring business opportunities with the organization.
She stated that a dedicated Help Desk will handle inquiries, enabling the company to effectively engage participants on the Dangote Group’s Strategic Business Units.
Speaking to newsmen in Lafia, Chairman and Council members of the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, Nidan Sambo Manasseh, said the theme for this year’s Trade Fair aptly aligns with Dangote Group’s vision.
“We align strongly with the vision of Aliko Dangote, whose leadership continues to shape Nigeria’s economic future. His focus on industrialization, local production, and value creation inspires our efforts to connect MSMEs to structured value chains.
“Through this partnership, we are building a bridge between grassroots businesses and large industries, driving inclusive growth,” he said.
He said the third edition of NASTFE is designed as a practical business, industrial, and human capital development platform, adding that it is not just an exhibition.
According to him: “A major highlight of this year’s programme is the Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme (ESAP), now structured as a package project for sponsorship support.
“ESAP is a yearly initiative from July-December targeting 2,000 beneficiaries across the 13 Local Government Areas of the State.
“The programme is strategically designed as a mobile training system, moving from one Local Government to another to ensure inclusive grassroots participation.”
Speaking on the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030, he said: “Our strategy is to align local enterprise development with large-scale industrial systems.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has nominated the Chairman of its Kano State chapter, Dr Goni Faruk Umar, alongside several prominent Nigerians to serve on its Endowment Fund Management Committee.
KANO FOCUS reports that the committee, which comprises distinguished figures from across the country, is expected to oversee the management and administration of the forum’s endowment fund.
According to the list released by the forum, retired Inspector General of Police, Mohammed D. Abubakar, will serve as Chairman of the committee, while former Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has been named Vice Chairman.
Other notable members of the committee include Amina Dantata, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Suleiman Adamu, Tijjani Bande, Aliyu Idi Hong, and Yerima Lawal Ngama.
Also listed are legal luminary Dakas I. Dakas and Joe-Kyari Gadzama, among others drawn from the public and private sectors.
The forum named Usman Kukasheka as Secretary of the committee, with Maimuna Yaya Abubakar serving as Assistant Secretary.
The Endowment Fund Management Committee is expected to play a key role in mobilising resources and ensuring transparent management of funds to support the activities and long-term objectives of the ACF.
The inclusion of Dr Goni Faruk Umar, alongside other eminent personalities, reflects the forum’s effort to draw on a broad spectrum of experience and expertise in strengthening its institutional capacity.
*Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim ANIPR,*
*Publicity Secretary ll,*
*ACF Kano State Chapter.*
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