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Dangote Cement Commissions Multi-Million Naira Hospital in Kogi
As GMD, Plant Director, Others Bag Chieftaincy Titles
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nigeria’s healthcare sector received a major boost on Friday as Dangote Cement Plc commissioned a multimillion naira hospital in Obajana, Kogi State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the commissioning ceremony also featured the conferment of traditional chieftaincy titles on the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Arvind Pathak, the Plant Director of the Obajana Plant, Engr Azad Nawabuddin, Head of Social Performance, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, General Manager Social Performance, Obajana, Ademola Adeyemi, Head Human Resource and Admin and Dangote Packaging Limited, Bashir Uba.
Mr. Pathak was conferred with the prestigious title of Mayegun of Obajana Kingdom, while Engr. Nawabuddin and Mr. Olayiwola received the traditional titles of Babagunwa and Adeyanju, respectively. Mr. Ademola was honoured with the title of Imokan of Obajana, while Mr. Bashir was installed as the Eri-Oba of Obajana Kingdom.
The new hospital is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme designed to improve access to quality healthcare for residents of Obajana and neighbouring communities.
The Bajana of Obajana, Engr Idowi Isenibi, described the project completion as a dream come true, adding that his community will protect the facility and the equipment, and ensure that it serve the purpose.
“Dangote is a blessing to this community,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Engr. Panjala Sreedhar, said the project was conceived after extensive consultations and community needs assessments that identified healthcare as a major priority.
He explained that the Cottage Hospital was built to provide comprehensive primary and secondary healthcare services, reducing the burden on residents who previously travelled long distances to access medical treatment.
“The Obajana Cottage Hospital is a direct response to the healthcare needs identified through our engagements with the Obajana community. The facility is designed to provide comprehensive primary and secondary healthcare services to residents of Obajana and surrounding communities,” Sreedhar said.
According to him, the facility is equipped with male, female and children’s wards, private wards, consulting rooms, a meeting room, 19 sanitary facilities, digital blood pressure monitoring devices, a dedicated borehole water supply and other essential medical infrastructure.
He expressed confidence that the hospital would improve maternal and child healthcare, strengthen healthcare delivery and enhance the overall wellbeing of residents in Obajana and surrounding communities.
Sreedhar noted that Dangote Cement has consistently invested in education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment and livelihood programmes across Obajana, Oyo, Iwaa, Apata and Jakura communities through continuous engagement with stakeholders.
He announced that the company has also approved additional projects, including ICT centres for Oyo and Iwaa communities, electrification projects in Jakura, vocational and skills acquisition programmes for youths, perimeter fencing of the Obajana Cultural Heritage Site and fencing of the UBE Secondary School in Apata.
The Acting Plant Director reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustaining strong partnerships with its host communities and creating shared value through impactful development projects.
He also appreciated Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, saying the administration’s support has contributed significantly to the growth of Dangote Cement’s operations in Kogi State.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Ododo, the Special Assistant on Corporate Social Responsibility, Hon. Paul Sunday, commended Dangote Cement for its sustained investments in community development and urged the company to provide medical personnel to operate the facility pending the deployment of health workers by the local government.
Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Council, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu, described the hospital as a major intervention that would improve healthcare access for residents, urging members of the community to make effective use of the facility.
Adamu also appealed to Dangote Cement to sustain its support for local security outfits, particularly vigilante groups operating within the Obajana community, to further strengthen peace and security.
The Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of the Okun Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Oba Solomon Owoniyi, praised the company for delivering the healthcare project, noting that although a general hospital would have been preferable, the Cottage Hospital remained a significant contribution to community development.
The royal father urged the people of Oworo land to take ownership of the facility by ensuring its proper maintenance while pledging the support and cooperation of the host community.
Group Head, Socio-Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the cordial relationship between the company and its host communities made the project possible, adding that the company had taken note of the observations and requests made by stakeholders.
Mr. Olayiwola disclosed that since 2025, Dangote Cement has expanded its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes beyond its immediate host communities, assuring residents that the company would continue to undertake projects that improve lives and support sustainable community development.
General Manager Social Performance, Obajana Plant, Ademola Adeyemi, said the company has several other programmes lined up for execution as CSR and those contained in the Community Development Agreement (CDA).
HE Thanked the traditional leaders for the titles conferred on management staff, saying it will spur the company to do more, as it enjoys peaceful relations.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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