Dangote Cement Plant, Obajana, has commenced its highly anticipated 2025 Sustainability Week with an expanded programme that places significant emphasis on sports development and community participation.
The week’s inauguration featured a comprehensive series of sporting events and educational competitions, all operating under the unifying theme “Sustainable Progress: Celebrating Growth and Partnerships,” designed to strengthen community bonds and promote holistic development across the region.
The centerpiece of the opening ceremonies was a dynamic football tournament that brought together teams from Dangote Cement’s workforce and surrounding host communities.
As part of activities marking the 2025 Sustainability Week, the grand finale of the Sustainability Week Football Tournament took place today, 29th October 2025, at the Obajana Academy Field.
The thrilling final match saw the Oyo Community Football Team clinch victory with a 1–0 win against Dangote Cement Transport (DCT).
The tournament, which kicked off on Friday, 24th October, featured exciting games between Dangote Cement Obajana Plant, Dangote Cement Transport, and host community teams. It was aimed at promoting teamwork, wellness, and social inclusion—strengthening the relationship between employees and the surrounding communities.
The final match was graced by key members of management, including the Plant Director, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, CGM Maintenance, Mr. Panjala Sreedar, CGM Production, Mr. John Gwong, and GM Special Duties, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, among others.
The event concluded on a high note, with participants and guests commending the initiative for fostering unity, mutual respect, and collaboration in line with Dangote Cement’s sustainability values.
The educational component of the Sustainability Week launch was equally impressive, featuring an Inter-School Spelling Bee and Quiz Competition that attracted participation from ten secondary schools drawn from the plant’s host communities.
The academic competition, which saw Golden Vessels Academy of Obajana emerge as the Spelling Bee champion, provided a platform for students to demonstrate their intellectual capabilities while fostering academic excellence and scholarly engagement among the youth. The simultaneous focus on sports and education reflects Dangote Cement’s comprehensive approach to community development, recognizing that both physical and intellectual growth are essential components of sustainable progress.
In his address at the opening ceremony, Plant Director Engr. Azad Nawabuddin elaborated on the strategic thinking behind the expanded programming.
“Our investment in sports infrastructure and programming represents a fundamental commitment to the holistic well-being of our community members. The football tournament we witnessed today does much more than provide entertainment – it builds character, teaches valuable life lessons, and creates enduring bonds between our organization and the communities we serve. When we see our employees and community members training together, competing respectfully, and celebrating each other’s achievements, we see the very essence of sustainable partnership in action. These relationships, forged on the playing field, translate into stronger, more collaborative partnerships in all aspects of our community engagement.”
Mr. Peter Agba, Head of HAM-Admin/HR, further emphasized the strategic importance of the company’s multifaceted approach.
Mr. Agba: “Our simultaneous focus on sporting activities and educational initiatives like the Spelling Bee competition represents a deliberate strategy to nurture both the physical and intellectual capabilities of our community members. We firmly believe that this comprehensive approach to development – engaging youth through sports while challenging their minds through academic competitions – creates the optimal conditions for sustainable community growth and individual empowerment. The enthusiasm and talent displayed across both sporting and academic domains this week have been truly inspiring and reinforce our commitment to this dual-track development strategy.”
The successful launch of Sustainability Week 2025 sets a positive tone for the remaining scheduled activities, which include additional sporting events, environmental initiatives, health awareness campaigns, and skills development workshops. This expanded programming reflects Dangote Cement’s evolving approach to sustainability, one that recognizes the interconnectedness of physical health, mental well-being, educational achievement, and environmental stewardship in creating truly sustainable communities. The company has reiterated its commitment to maintaining this comprehensive approach throughout the year, with planned quarterly sporting events and regular educational initiatives to ensure sustained engagement and measurable impact.
As the week continues, Dangote Cement remains focused on its overarching mission of driving progress through meaningful collaboration and responsible corporate citizenship. The expanded focus on sports, combined with traditional educational initiatives, demonstrates the company’s innovative approach to sustainable development and its commitment to creating lasting positive impact in the communities where it operates.
