BUA Cement Company on Thursday distributed farming inputs and other empowerment tools to 1,500 persons in the resettled communities affected by the company’s activities in Sokoto.

The initiative is part of the company’s development roadmap, as outlined in its corporate social responsibility programmes, to host communities in Sokoto.

BUA’s managing director, Yusuf Binji, who led the presentation to the beneficiaries, noted that about N400 million was spent on the initiative. He said the initiative covered training, business development, inputs, and distribution of business working tools, among others.

Mr Binji said the efforts were aimed at empowering the resettled communities in modern farming and other business opportunities to uplift their living standards.

“At present, 300 farmers have benefited from bags of fertiliser, improved seedlings, and other chemicals for dry season farming,” he said.

He highlighted the CSR projects, including healthcare support for hospitals, a students’ scholarship scheme, a vocational training programme, and support for educational infrastructure development.

Other initiatives, according to him, include establishing a technical college, providing support for electricity installations, providing potable water, and constructing numerous road projects across the communities.

Mr Binji added that the company had also reached an agreement to patronise eligible indigenous contractors from the host communities and to provide employment opportunities for indigenes during the recruitment exercise.

He said the annual distribution of bags of cement for the repair of public places across the communities remained mandatory based on the agreement.

Ali Gumel, the assistant director of health, environmental and community services, said the chain of activities would continue toward supporting the people displaced by the company’s operations at various locations.

Mr Gumel said the initiatives included providing alternative farmland, training in modern agricultural practices, inputs to increase yields, skills-acquisition programmes, and business development opportunities.

(NAN)