Joy enveloped the Idotun Community Junior High School, a suburb of Lekki, last Thursday, when Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, in partnership with Dangote Fertilisers Limited, awarded scholarships to 473 students from 10 secondary schools and seven tertiary institutions.
   
Moreover, the company donated 804 tables and chairs to secondary schools in their host communities of Ibeju-Lekki. Students, parents, teachers, and community leaders expressed their elation, as the scholarship certificates were presented to the beneficiaries, alongside educational materials, including textbooks and notebooks, as part of the fifth edition of the Dangote Scholarship Award Programme.
  
Group Vice President of Oil & Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, remarked that the event symbolised a shared vision – a partnership between Dangote Industries and the host communities – designed to build a foundation for sustainable growth, one that is rooted in education, innovation, and opportunity.

He stressed that the initiative was not merely a celebration of achievements, but a reaffirmation of the group’s commitment to nurturing potential, empowering communities, and shaping a brighter future for the leaders of tomorrow.
  
“Education, as we all know, is the passport to the future. At Dangote, we believe that education is not just a privilege, but a right that every child deserves. This belief has fueled our dedication to supporting students and schools in our host communities since the year 2019 when we launched the Scholarship Award Programme as a key pillar of our Community Development Plan, with year-on-year progress,” he said.
  
Managing Director of Dangote Industries Free Zone Development Company (DIFZDC), Olayinka Akande, urged the beneficiaries to uphold excellence, which he identified as one of the core values of Dangote Industries Limited.     
   
Emphasising the importance of dedication and diligence, he encouraged the students to aim high, noting that with such attributes, some of them could rise to become governors, ministers, captains of industry, or even the next ‘Edwin’ in the future.
  
Head of Social Performance at Dangote Petroleum & Petrochemicals, Ogunleye Mojisola, highlighted that the education intervention was one of the four pillars of the Community Development Plan.
   
The Aro of Lekki Kingdom, Chief Adewale Salami, who represented the Oni of Lekki, conveyed his appreciation for the intervention, affirming that the company was helping to shape the future of the community.  He also expressed the kingdom’s continued support for Dangote Industries Limited.
   
Chairman of Lekki Coastal Area Development Association, Alhaji Wasiu Ayeola, praised the founder of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, for transforming what was once a hunting ground of rabbits and lizards into a multibillion-dollar investment that benefits not only the local community and Lagos, but also Nigeria and the world.