The focus of Dangote Group in empowering the youth and making them believe in themselves was well applauded by the Government of Cross Rivers State at the weekend, when the Group was described as a corporate body with the best approach to youth empowerment and development in the country.
Wife of Governor Liyel Imoke, Obioma, who represented the governor at the tape cutting to declare the Calabar Children Carnival open, said Dangote, over the years, has been consistent in giving back to the society, empowering the youth and serving as a good and positive role model to the youth.
“Aliko Dangote has been a good and positive role model to our youth. He has shown enormous interest in youth development and empowerment and we wish other notable Nigerians can take a cue from him and use their organisations to support the youth, who are obviously the leaders of tomorrow.”
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, however, assured of more strategic investments in the nation’s economy with focus on youth development by partnering with state governments.
Dangote, represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Esan Sunday, gave the assurance during the flag off of the carnival .
He said all hands should be on deck to develop the children to become useful for themselves and the nation.
He said it was against this background that the Group has been sponsoring the Children segment of the carnival.
The group, according to Dangote, also run an academy which is targetted at youth development academically.
The colouful procession of children from age three to 16 numbering over 10,000 started from the popular botanical garden through to the stadium.
It was witnessed by top government officials led by Mrs Obioma Imoke.
The governor’s wife urged other organisations to emulate the good gestures of Dangote Group and helped in the development of the country.
Mrs Imoke told the children that the state government is committed to policies and programmes that will assist the children and youths realise their potential.
She urged the youth to see potential and not limitations in their aspirations to become the best in the future.
No fewer than 10,000 children participated in the carnival and the Dangote Group, as the sponsors, provided branded shirts for all of them and their bands.
It also provided same for the officials in addition to thousands of cartons of variety of its Dansa fruit drinks and bottles of water were made available for the children and officials.
The carnival proper involved several groups of children of different ages who paraded the four-kilometer distance from the Botanical Garden located near the Mary Slessor Roundabout through Barracks Road and terminating at the Esuene Stadium.
Various bands that participated in the run include Bayside band, Freedom band, Masta Blasta band, Seagull Band, Passion Four and Army Children band.
The children, who were full of excitement, paraded and danced to the music being supplied from over a dozen of open vans and trucks equipped with hi-fi sound systems and disc jockeys adorning Dangote Beach umbrellas.
It was an exciting sight to see sea of children adorned in various colors of Dangote-branded T-shirts.
