Africa has not had palpable guidelines helpful in shaping the destiny of the world. Observably, African countries were remiss in attaching due concern to and contributing due roles for the future of the world. Even, Africa has not managed to shrug its shoulders from the burden of poverty, miserly and political unrest as well as social chaos. It has not freed itself from anxiety of insecurity. It has not withdrawn from conflict, violence and war.
Though Africa has been endowed with diversity in terms of ethnics identity, languages, historical figures, aesthetic and antique values, natural and historical heritages, scenery sights and so on, Africa is still unable to do something for the global society.
This is a critical issue or a key question that needs response from any segments of African people. A platform to this effect could comprise think thank groups drawn from Africa mindful of the contribution of Africa as a continent toward the global society.
As long as the western and other advanced nations as well as developing countries have maximized their potentials for the betterment of the world, African people must be contributing a brick. They could offer what they have for the well- being of world society.
As we live in a world of interdependence with co-existence bent, Africans should not be receivers of donations and givers of raw materials but also a catalyst in lifestyles and a continent of center of excellences in indigenous knowledge and wisdoms, home-made technologies and tools, literacy elements, philosophical views, creativity and innovational works, historical and political perspectives, among others.
In this regard, Nigeria has influenced the other African countries in the offerings of its outputs that are worth mentioning for the global society. Nigeria has contributed a lot for socio-economic growth as well as politics in the continent of Africa and also to the globe at large. In other words, this country has undeniable influence on the development of the continent.
Nigerian businessmen have been stretching their hands not only in Africa but also worldwide. Among the affluent individuals is found Nigerian well-known rich- person-Akilo Dangote. He is striving hard to expand his business across the region.
Akilo Dangote has numerous cement industries in most Africa countries. Dangote Cement PLC has an expansion center here in Ethiopia. Its activities are shared by Public Relations Officer of Dangote Cement Ethiopia PLC, Bekele Erena. He was approached by The Ethiopian Herald. Excerpts;
Herald: to begin with, tell us about the historical background of Dangote Cement Industry?
Bekele: Dangote Cement is a subsidiary of Dangote Industries, which was founded by Aliko Dangote in 1981 as a trading business with an initial focus on importation of bagged cement and other commodities such as rice, sugar, flour, salt and fish.
Over time, the Group began to import bulk cement into the Apapa and Port Harcourt terminals, which it then bagged for distribution. Through the 1990s, the Group made a strategic decision to transition from a trading-based business into a fully-fledged integrated manufacturing operation.
This is where the group ambitious plan to become Africa’s leading cement producer began. Concerning the Dangote’s Cement Ethiopia PLC, the first phase which is in 2010-2015, focused on agricultural development and support services including infrastructure preparations like human development, education, healthcare and banking.
As a result, however, the country began spending millions of dollars on cement imports as local production could not sustain demand. The turning point came in 2012 when the government called for a series of cement plants to be built locally, leading both national and foreign investors to construct new such facilities in different locations across the country.
Dangote Cement Ethiopia was inaugurated on 3 June 2015.The facility is able to produce 2.5 million tons of cement every year and accounts for 30 percent of the entire local market.
Herald: would you say something about the overall performance of Dangote’s cement industry?
Bekele: Dangote Cement and its flagship Mugher plant have transformed Ethiopia’s construction capacity in the past half-decade, delivering 2.5 million tons of high-quality building materials to the local market annually.
Nowadays, Dangote cement Ethiopia contributes a lot in supporting the construction sector of the country and controlling the cement market nationally.
Herald: what do you think of the social responsibility of the Dangote cement industry?
Bekele; last time, the company created job opportunities for more than 3,500 people through means of permanent, contract and agency. There are also more than 20 small Micro enterprises having more than 900 members.
Besides Dangote daily creates job opportunities for 50-100 casual worker or laborers from the local community. This is a very huge job opportunity for the state governments in particular and the nation in general.
Moreover, this company works a lot to satisfy the local community by participating in Corporate Social Responsibilities. Through this effort, Dangote helped the local community through providing drinking water for Mugher town with nearly two million Birr.
Another social responsibility carried out by this Company is participating in building additional classes from the surrounding school classes. Some of them entail the building of additional classes for the schools such as Chancho Bireti, Deku Kersa,Ula Gora & Gatira Nebe.
Herald: Could you brief us about the involvement of Dangote cement industry in the global market?
Bekele; Dangote group is working in 13 African countries including Nigeria dominantly on cement industry and others like rice, oil refinery, sugar and others.
Herald; do you think having access to African free trade and inter regional integration could contribute a lot for the growth of Dangote cement industry’s income?
Bekele; As to my perception, African trade and inter- regional integration can contribute a lot for the growth of Dangote industry income by creating opportunities for the company to participate in investment in Nigeria like sugar factory, rice, power and etc. In fact, Dangote industry is working in many African countries particularly on cement.
Herald; how do you describe how political unrest, here in Ethiopia, affected the performance of Dangote’s cement industry?
Bekele: Political unrest definitely affected the performance of Dangote Cement Ethiopia in different ways. The first one is the the fear to extend the investment of cement by adding another line. Similarly, many trucks have been damaged following the political unrest starting from 2016.
Herald: to what extent do you think the Dangote cement industry is engaged in export-driven economy?
Bekele: Dangote Cement Ethiopia plc can engage in export-driven economy because of its product quality and having ISO 9001:2015 certificates.
Herald: what kind of contribution is the Dangote cement industry playing for African communities at large?
Bekele: Dangote group at Africa level added a lot in supporting the community in different areas to empower particularly women and parts of community at low economic status. Similarly Dangote created education opportunities for the community for further development.
For example, in Ethiopia, Dangote provided education opportunities for those who are upright in academic achievement to make them industrial managers at different African countries. Again in Ethiopia, there is a year-long training for Dangote’s Community Service operators to empower them and thereby to replace the expatriates by local staff.
Herald: how much cement is produced annually here in Ethiopia?
Bekele: Dangote Cement Ethiopia produces 2.5 million tons of high-quality cement annually on the average.
Herald:How do you assess the government’s support for the Dangote cement industry?
Bekele; The government is supposed to support the company by providing sufficient exchange for the importation of input materials and machineries.
The Ethiopian Herald August 2/2020
BY MEHARI BEYENE
