By G9ija
Africa’s foremost philanthropist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has bagged a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the umbrella body of employers in the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Nigeria.
It was indeed a night of honour for Dangote during the 2021 Employers Annual Excellence Award held in Lagos as his pan-Africa Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) was named the “Best Company in the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Sector.”
The awards were received on the industrialist’s behalf by a team of executive management led by the Group Executive Director, Strategy, Portfolio Development & Capital Projects, DIL, Devakumar Edwin.
President, NECA, Taiwo Adeniyi, said Alh Dangote was being recognised for his huge contributions to nation building and economic development through his various investments and the attendant job creation opportunities.
He described the business magnate as a torch-bearer in the private sector and commended his doggedness in investing in sectors capable of improving Nigeria’s economic wellbeing and transition from importers to net exporters.
Adeniyi explained that the Employers Excellence Awards was meant to celebrate outstanding contributions of enterprise to national development geared towards promoting and encouraging best practices in Corporate Performance, People Management and Industrial Relations practices amongst employers in Nigeria.
He said, “The annual award provides a platform for identifying, ranking and celebrating the resilience, doggedness and outstanding performance of employers in Nigeria.
“It is to recognise and publicly award enterprises that have exhibited excellence in Leadership, Governance, Innovation, Corporate Performance and Human Resource Management (HRM) amongst others and provide a platform for discussion and agenda setting on the need to embrace best practices in Corporate Performance, People Management and Industrial Relations through a well branded, presented, and organised event.
“This annual event equally provides feedback to participating employers on their status regarding attainment of best practices in Corporate Performance, People Management and Industrial Relations.”
Group Executive Director, DIL, Edwin described NECA as a dispassionate organisation that promotes leadership, good governance, innovation, productivity and corporate performance, and “therefore Mr. Dangote cherishes the award coming from a quarter like NECA.”
He said: “NECA continues to remain a partner in progress, rewarding deserving companies for their contribution to national development. The Dangote Group will continue to contribute its quota to nation building and promote responsible business all sectors we operate.”
Edwin stated that the Dangote Group’s effort in addressing Africa’s agricultural and energy crisis included the bold step in constructing the second largest fertiliser complex in the world, a 1,100km sub-sea gas pipeline, and the multi-billion-dollar 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery.
Other winners in various categories include British American Tobacco (BAT) in Food, Beverages and Tobacco sector; TGI Group in Agro & Agro Allied Services; Cadbury in Food and Beverage Food Sector; while Nestle won the Award for Innovation and People Centric Culture; Fidson won an award for the Pharmaceutical sector, and Nigeria Foundry won in the Metallic/ Steel Sector.
Dangote Group, headed by global philanthropist, Alh Aliko Dangote has a presence in 10 African countries, providing employment for tens of thousands of people.
