General
Dangote Flags Off Waste-to-Wealth Initiative for Sustainability Week
The Dangote Industries Limited has flagged off an environment focused initiative tagged Waste to Wealth initiative as part of activities marking the 2019 Global Sustainability Week.
The initiative is focused on managing waste disposal while generating income and giving back to communities wherein the company operates.
The conglomerate marked the Sustainability Week with the theme Our Community, Our Passion with various activities held in the Lagos and across its Business Units and plants. These activities focused on investment programmes directed towards turning waste to wealth, and reviving reading culture in young children in host communities.
In Lagos, over 200 Sustainability Champions and employee volunteers across the business units, assisted five international facilitators to train the children on turning the most insignificant materials and waste in the environment into tangible assets of economic value to the nation.
Dangote employees took the initiative to St. George Primary School and Aunty Ayo International School in Ikoyi, where the facilitators, with additional help from the volunteers, trained the children on how to manage their wastes and create sustainable products that are marketable from their everyday generated wastes.
Reason for The Initiative
Speaking on the initiative, the Group Chief Sustainability and Governance, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr Ndidi Nnoli, said the company’s sustainability approach is driven by a desire to contribute and impact positively towards the development of host communities and the society at large.
According to her, the 2019 Sustainability Week is directed towards safeguarding the environment by educating the host communities on how to turn waste to wealth to achieve sustainable development.
She said, “We chose St. Georges School because the school is a neighbour to Dangote Head Office building in Ikoyi. Charity begins at home. We started to engender the sustainability culture as an employee volunteering initiative.
“We honestly believe that people are at the centre of any organisation and sustainability needs to begin with the individual person. It is a culture in Dangote to celebrate the sustainability week every year and this year we decided to bring it to a neighbouring school.”
“It is so important that we bring the initiative to the schools around us because we need to be very concerned about our children, their future, and most especially, education outside the classroom. We need to be concerned about educating our children on sustainability beyond the definition,” she added.
Ms Nnoli disclosed that the company brought international artists to educate the employees that the type of waste that can easily be thrown into the trash can, could be transformed into usable items.
“We have people making bangles and pencil cases out of waste plastics. We also have literacy session, mentoring and above all, we are learning about why it is necessary to hunger for knowledge,” she said further.
She noted that the Dangote Group has a responsibility to the environment and the society, pointing out that, “We are looking for ways to ensure that value is added to things around us. We have many volunteers who are so eager to learn and impact knowledge to the children. The children are also very excited to learn on new ways to transform the environment.”
“For us at Dangote, it is social responsibility and also corporate services, but in this case, the employees have volunteered to carry out this initiative. But the organisation has given us the license to do whatever we want to do.
“So, as Dangote employees, we have chosen to stand for sustainability, we stand for social development and we stand for the education of a child,” she said.
More Insight Into The Initiaitve
Giving insight into the programme, the Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Dangote Cement Plc, Dr Musa Rabiu, said the company’s intention was to create an environment “where we keep improving on how we operate and interact with the environment and regarding people as the most valuable assets.”
He said the company organised the programme to touch the hearts and minds of children who are the next generation by teaching them how to re-use trash.
Mr Rabiu said the initiative was all about reigniting children’s creative ability through innovation by leveraging on technology. “We need to let them know that managing the environment in terms of creativity and innovation is key. With this knowledge, the children are expected to grow up and be conscious of how they can re-use materials in the environment”, he added.
General Manager, Sustainability, Dangote Cement Plc, Eunice Samson, said the company’s intention was to ensure that Dangote employees key into the Group’s vision and volunteer to reach out to the local communities through value addition.
Reason for the 2019 Sustainability Week Theme
She said the theme for this year’s Sustainability Week “Our Community, Our Passion, the Dangote Way” was a way to make the host community to begin to see the social side of Dangote. “So, for Dangote, it is not always all about business; we also care about the wellbeing of our host communities. With this programme today, we have been able to reach out to over 600 pupils from St. George Primary School and Aunty Ayo International School, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“What we are trying to do is to ensure that we clear the environment of waste by turning it into wealth. We have over 200 Dangote employees who have volunteered to assist the facilitators to teach the children how to turn waste to wealth. The children have been taught how to turn waste plastic bottles into pencil cases, bangles, piggy banks, as well as using used Dangote Cement bags to create gardens” she added.
Speaking also at the event, the Managing Director of African Creative Hub, Jumoke Olowookere, said her responsibility was to teach the participants on how to create a sustainable world without wastes through upcycling wastes towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Definition of Sustainability
Business Post reports that according to Wikipedia, Sustainability refers generally to the capacity for the biosphere and human civilization to coexist. It is also defined as the process of people maintaining change in a balanced environment, in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.
By Adedapo Adesanya
As part of its mission to elevate the effectiveness of public service across Africa, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has launched the fourth cohort of the AIG Public Leaders Programme (PLP).
Delivered in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, this initiative has successfully empowered 169 public sector leaders since 2021, advancing the Foundation’s mission to train 3,000 public sector leaders by 2030, equipping them with the essential skills to drive impactful reforms and strengthen service delivery in their Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The AIG PLP is an executive training programme that builds the capabilities of African public sector leaders, positioning them to deliver measurable results and foster cultures of integrity, excellence, and innovation.
The Foundation’s vision is to cultivate a new generation of leaders who can address complex challenges, implementing sustainable reforms that resonate across communities.
The programme has already showcased remarkable results as its alumni have implemented transformative reform projects in their various organisations, a core element of the curriculum, creating a ripple effect of positive change across sectors.
One such change project was implemented by Dr Ibiwunmi Olokun, Medical Officer of Health and Primary Health Care Coordinator at the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board and a member of Cohort 3 of the programme.
Dr Olokun led a project at her Primary Healthcare Centre that reduced patient waiting times from 70 minutes to 30 minutes. This successful model is now being adopted in other units and facilities within her health district in Lagos State.
Additionally, Mr Mohammed Ahmed, Director and Chief of Staff to the CEO of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and a Cohort 1 AIG PLP alumnus, has made strides in combating financial crimes in Nigeria.
His reform project focused on fostering partnerships between the government and the private sector to enhance financial intelligence aimed at tackling financial crimes.
Today, his efforts are reshaping financial crime prevention strategies in Nigeria through strategic public-private collaborations that empower the nation to address complex financial crimes more effectively.
The current cohort, which includes participants from Ghana and Kenya, has commenced virtual classes and is gearing up for an intensive, one-week residential programme in Abuja from November 18 to November 22.
During this time, participants will engage with the faculty from the Blavatnik School, Oxford, gaining strategic insights and practical tools to excel in their roles and to instil change within their MDAs.
With the launch of this new class, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation continues on its quest to reshape public sector leadership in Africa.
By empowering leaders with the tools to champion reform and advance efficient service delivery, the Foundation remains at the forefront of impactful public service transformation.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Like a golden fish which cannot be hidden, the excellence of Egbin Power Plc has been recognised in faraway Zambia, where it emerged as the Best in Safety Performance in Power Generation Company in Africa at the 2024 AfriSafe Awards held in Livingstone, Zambia.
The Nigerian energy firm received this accolade for its commitment to safety excellence through the implementation of a series of initiatives to deepen its safety culture.
“The company’s consistent dedication to creating a safe and sustainable working environment has set a new benchmark for the power generation industry in Africa.
“This well-deserved recognition is a testament to Egbin Power’s relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to high safety standards,” the founder of the AfriSafe Award, Mr Femi Dasilva, explained the reason for bestowing the award on the power generating organisation.
While receiving the award, the chief executive of Egbin Power, Mr Mokhtar Bounour, said, “This award is a testament to the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of the board, management team and staff of Egbin Power. Our commitment to safety is not just a slogan; it’s a core value that permeates every aspect of our operations.”
“This award further validates our focus on deepening the culture of safety, and we are immensely proud of our team for making it happen. By working together, we have set a new standard for safety excellence in the power generation industry.
“We will continue to strive for continuous improvement and remain steadfast in our pursuit of a zero-harm workplace,” he assured.
The 2024 AfriSafe Award was graced by dignitaries, including ministers in the Zambian government, representatives of Nigeria’s House of Reps Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations. captains of industry and distinguished safety professionals from across over 24 African countries.
At a separate event held in furtherance of its commitment to safety excellence, Egbin Power held its annual QHSE Week, themed Egbin DNA: Building a Culture of Safety and Sustainability in the Workplace.
The Week was also attended by a delegation from the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) led by the National President, Stephen Awori Udezi; the chairman of the Lagos branch of the Institute Mr Sola Ogunleye; and others.
The high point of 2024 QHSE Week was the unveiling of the company’s new fire-fighting truck and also awards given to outstanding departments and employees who continuously demonstrated high commitment to improving Egbin Power’s robust safety management system, while upholding high safety standards in the course of duty.
Commenting on the annual QHSE Week, the Head of QHSE at Egbin Power, Mr Julius Akpong, said the company has a deeply entrenched safety culture and effective management system that guide employees and the company’s operations.
“At Egbin Power, we have built a strong safety culture and instituted a structured approach to occupational safety management over the years. Workplace safety is a priority and part of our core values: Safety, Professionalism, Integrity & Discipline, Commitment to Stakeholders, Environmental Consciousness and Sustainability (SPICES),” he stated.
In celebrating the week, employees participated in activities like family safety moments which included, aerobics, practical training sessions anchored by Nigerian Red Cross officials who enlightened staff and their family members on first-aid and firefighting techniques.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has opened the biggest visa application centre in Africa in Lagos, Nigeria through the UK’s new commercial partner, VFS Global to ease the often burdensome process.
According to a statement by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), residents of Nigeria travelling to the UK can now book appointments to submit their visa applications through VFS Global’s new state-of-the-art Visa Application Centres (VAC) located in Abuja, Ikeja (Lagos) and Victoria Island (Lagos) which have commenced operations since November 19.
The UK is a popular destination for travellers across Africa, with Nigeria being among the highest nationalities by volume for UK visit visas, accounting for 5 per cent of the global total. In the African region, VFS Global will provide Visa Application Centres for the UK in 31 countries.
Commenting at the launch of the new UK Visa Application Centre which is situated in Ikeja, Lagos, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter, said, “I am delighted to witness the opening of this, the largest visa application centre in Africa. Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most important partners, and we hope that VFS deliver ever-improving services for those applying for visas to the UK.”
The Director of Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Mr Marc Owen, said, “The opening of our new VAC in Ikeja marks an exciting milestone for UKVI and VFS Global in the provision of a world-class UK visa service here in Nigeria and elsewhere across Africa.
“In the year to June 2024, we processed more than 225k UK visas for Nigerian nationals across all categories and this new partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all applicants.”
Adding his input, the Head-Sub-Saharan Africa, VFS Global, Mr Alok Singhal added that, “We are excited to embark on this new journey with UK Visas and Immigration here in Nigeria. We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership with UK Visas and Immigration since 2003 and look forward to now bringing travellers from Nigeria our best-in-class services.”
According to the statement, UK visa customers can choose from optional services offered by VFS Global, to provide enhanced comfort and convenience. These include document upload assistance, Prime Time for application submission outside of business hours, SMS notifications, document checking service, and courier return of the passport once a decision has been made.
VFS Global’s Keep My Passport While Applying service allows customers to keep their passports once their application is submitted and biometrics have been enrolled. Customer will only need to re-submit their passport when a decision is reached.
Customers in Abuja can also submit their UK visa applications from the comfort and safety of their home, office, or any other preferred location with its On Demand Mobile Visa service.
In addition, their Premium Lounge service offers a personalised submission experience with dedicated staff members.
The UK government added a caveat that these services are completely optional and have no bearing on the processing timeline and outcomes of visa applications.
As a partner to UK Visas and Immigration since 2003, VFS Global offered visa services in 58 countries before the new contract and has now been awarded the contract to provide UK visa services in 142 countries worldwide.
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