By
Gloria Abutu
The Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), Numan on Tuesday, hosted the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Adamawa State Chapter on an advocacy call on the company.
The visit aimed to discuss the sustainability of peace in the surrounding communities and explore avenues for mutual collaboration.
Receiving the female journalists in the company’s boardroom, Chief Executive of Dangote Sugar Refinery, Sylvain Chinnaya commended the association for the visit and promised to explore ways of partnership with the association.
He emphasized the company’s commitment to engaging with local communities to provide jobs to improve their livelihoods.
Chinnaya acknowledged the challenges faced by DSR, particularly in its efforts to expand sugarcane production.
Despite these challenges, he commended the teamwork and dedication of the employees, pointing out that women engagement have been crucial in overcoming obstacles and ensuring the sustainability of the company’s operations.
He also shared that the refinery’s goal to increase sugarcane production, further bolstering the local economy.
The Head of the Agricultural Department, Ibrahim Doka provided additional insights into the company’s agricultural efforts.
He revealed the company’s continuous efforts to enhance productivity.
This aligns with the company’s broader mandate to improve the standard of living for the surrounding six local government areas and 52 communities.
In her response, the NAWOJ Adamawa State Chairperson, Mrs. Rose Anthony Elishama, expressed appreciation for DSR’s efforts in sugar production and its commitment to sustainable development.
She emphasized the significance of partnership and collaboration between NAWOJ and DSR in maintaining peace and fostering mutual understanding in the region.
Elishama also outlined the objectives of NAWOJ, particularly its focus on empowering women to compete to enable them carry out their duties effectively.
She acknowledged the challenges posed by societal segregation and restrictions and expressed NAWOJ’s readiness to partner with DSR to promote a positive relationship and ensure the association’s active involvement in the refinery’s activities.
Earlier, the Head of Corporate Affairs at Dangote Sugar Refinery, Ngozi Ngene extended gratitude to NAWOJ for the visit, recognizing the valuable insights gained from the interaction.
She also underscored the importance of their Corporate Social Responsibility in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through quality education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation, and economic growth, creating positive impact on the people.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with the journalists being taken on a guided tour of some of the refinery’s sugar plantation and facilities.
During the tour, they observed the production processes and gained a deeper understanding of the company’s operations and its significant contributions to the local economy.
Formerly known as Savannah Sugar Company Limited, the Dangote Sugar Refinery, Numan spans 32,000 hectares, with a production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of sugar per annum.
Additionally, the refinery generates 6 megawatts of power from bagasse, providing employment for over 10,000 workers, and supporting more than 650 farmers through its out-growers scheme.
Dangote Sugar is a leading supplier of sugar in Nigeria with one of the largest refineries in Africa.
