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IWD: ‘Women play crucial roles in Dangote Group success story’ – Fatima Aliko Dangote
Executive Director, Commercial, NASCON Allied Industries, Fatima Aliko Dangote has revealed that the Dangote Group has invested in innovative technologies and processes to achieve gender equality and empowerment of all women in the organisation.
Besides, Fatima disclosed that women are playing pivotal roles in the success story of the Dangote Group.
To drive transformative change, she said the company is implementing the policy of continuous improvement in its production processes with state-of-the-art production facilities, which are already being managed by women.
Speaking while opening the International Women’s Day Conference in Lagos and Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Fatima noted that the company, through its Learning Management System (LMS), offers employees a variety of resources and opportunities that help them advance their professional and personal development.
According to her, these learning and development offerings cover vast focus areas and are provided via on-the-job, classroom, and online learning platforms, to both permanent and temporary employees across all cadres, in the Group’s Nigerian and Pan-African operations.
“At the plants, we have the Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) for online analysis, robotic laboratory, and fully automated central control room system equipped with Human Machine Interface technology (HMI) and innovative solutions to drive resource efficiency, process optimisation and mitigate the environmental footprints of our products while delivering quality products that meet the needs of our esteemed customers,” she added.
Fatima explained that Dangote Women’s Network through this year’s theme has provided a unique opportunity to holistically examine the theme of innovation and technology from a gender perspective.
“We are inspired by our superheroes in STEM, and we hope this session increases your awareness of innovation, technology, and digital education, driven by women for women, and learn advancements in digital technology that address how we rethink our daily lives and achieve our personal and professional goals.
“I would like to encourage our women with a few tips on leveraging technology, Equipping yourselves academically and technically, be inspired and inspire others by creating opportunities for regular interactions with female STEM champions and leaders and tapping into opportunities for hands-on experience in the form of volunteering”, she added.
Speaking also, Co-Founder/COO Piggy/Vest NG, Odunayo Eweniyi said technology plays a key role and can support women in their daily responsibilities either as a mother or as a worker.
She said it’s never too early to introduce girls to technology and that supporting their passion early can lead to meaningful careers in the future.
She urged the Dangote Cement Group not to relent in its Gender Balance Policy, especially as it relates to encouraging qualified women in the business of cement production.
Chief Enterprises Business Officer, MTN Nigeria Mrs. Lynda Saint said women’s condition can be improved through innovative technology.
She encouraged parents to expose their female children to science and technology as the world has embraced technology and innovation in every aspect of the organisation.
Giving a vote of thanks at the end of the conference, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Dangote Industries Limited, Nglan Niat commended the speakers for sharing their valuable thoughts and insights with the Dangote team.
“Today marks International Women’s Day 2023, a day set aside to take stock and reflect on how far we have come in tackling gender disparity and also to recognise how much we must go to achieve equality and equity in our workplace.
Having female representation at all levels of the company is essential as it contributes to a good working environment and better quality of work. That is what we are striving to achieve. The technology industry has been male-dominated, so we need to work harder to ensure that women are properly supported,” she added.
Chairperson of the Dangote Women Network at the DCP Obajana, Mrs. Fatima Kabir Ikunaiye said the Network began operation in 2017, and since then it has carried out several interventional programmes in the cause of women.
Some of the programmes, Mrs. Ikunaiye said include: support for orphanages and vulnerable homes, sensitisation and empowerment of women as well as training them on skill acquisition.
News
Court dismisses suit seeking to stop EFCC from probing Sanwo-Olu after his tenure
The federal high court in Abuja has struck out the suit seeking to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, at the end of his tenure.
NAN reports that Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, dismissed the suit after Gbenga Femi Akande, the counsel who appeared for Sanwo-Olu, moved the motion to discontinue the case.
The court struck out the case on October 31.
In October, a lawsuit instituted on behalf of Sanwo-Olu against the EFCC over an alleged plan to arrest and prosecute him after his tenure was heard in court.
Darlington Ozurumba, a lawyer, filed the suit on behalf of the Lagos governor, who will complete his eight-year tenure on May 29, 2027.
In the suit, the lawyer argued that the alleged plan to arrest Sanwo-Olu is “unconstitutional and a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as stipulated under sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the constitution”.
The suit sought an order to restrain the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating, or prosecuting Sanwo-Olu in connection with his tenure as the governor of Lagos state.
Reacting to the suit, the Lagos government had said Sanwo-Olu did not instruct anyone to file a case against the EFCC.
Lawal Pedro, the Lagos attorney-general, said the state will investigate “how the case came to be without the knowledge” of the governor.
Pedro said neither the governor nor his aides are under investigation by the EFCC, adding that there is no threat of arrest by the anti-graft agency.
In a counter affidavit, Ufuoma Ezire, a superintendent and litigation secretary in the legal and prosecution department of the antigraft agency, said the EFCC is not investigating the governor and has never threatened to arrest him or his staff.
The anti-graft agency described the legal action as speculative and a “mere conjecture”.
On Tuesday, Hadiza Afegbua, counsel of the EFCC, appeared in court for the case.
However, NAN reports that the lawyer was disappointed that the case was not among the 10 listed for hearing at the court.
The counsel was reported to have expressed surprise when she learnt that the suit had been struck out on October 31.
However, the enrolled order dated October 31 shows that only Akande, the counsel who represented Sanwo-Olu, attended the proceedings leading to the dismissal of the suit.
News
Ododo surrenders Yahaya Bello to EFCC
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.
TheCable understands that Usman Ododo, Kogi governor, brought Bello to Abuja this morning and invited EFCC to come pick him up.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, would later allege that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance.
The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against Bello over alleged money laundering.
However, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the former governor.
In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was nurturing some safety concerns.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial.
Sources had told TheCable that Bello has been hiding in plain sight — holed up in the “protective custody” of the Kogi state government — since he was declared wanted by the EFCC.
News
Tinubu writes reps, seeks Oluyede’s confirmation as COAS
President Bola Tinubu has asked the house of representatives to confirm Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).
Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter read by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, during plenary on Tuesday.
Tinubu said Oluyede’s confirmation is in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
The president said the army chief’s contribution to the military and Nigeria makes him “well-suited” for the role.
He said Oluyede has been professional in his duties, adding that his confirmation should be done “expeditiously”.
On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.
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