The United Cement Com
pany of Nigeria Limited (UNICEM), has been lauded for initiating and sustaining robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) progammes that are deliberately targeted at uplifting the company’s host communities and her people.
Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation Mrs Rosemary Archibong  who stated this in a goodwill message at a two day stakeholders workshop on Developing Sustainable Business Enhancement Initiative Through the Cassava Cluster Centre Scheme for UNICEM Host Communities held at the company’s office basement, Diamond Hill, Calabar, pointed out that the initiative could not have come at a better time than now, when the nation is shifting attention from over dependence on oil to agricultural production which made Nigeria thick in the 60s and early 70s.
Mrs Archibong, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Freedom Ejom, described the Cassava Cluster Centre Scheme as a very laudable initiative that is deliberately designed to complement the small holder farming activities of host communities and charged benefitting co-operative societies from UNICEM host communities to take the scheme seriously as it will introduce agricultural best practices of International standards that will culminate in the use of modern technologies for high yield, quality assurance, improved processing methods and market linkages.
She implored other companies operating in the State to emulate the Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes of UNICEM, assuring that the State Government under Governor Ayade is not leaving anything to chance as all efforts are in top gear to tap into the rich arable land spread across the State to return the State and her people into agricultural production dominance while noting that many investors have come into the State to take up investment opportunities in different agricultural interests.
In a remark, Mr Ayi Ita Ayi of UNICEM Corporate Directorate restated the company’s determination to upscale her corporate social responsibility programme, adding that host communities remain the company’s top priority in the years ahead.
Mr Inyang Bassey, UNICEM Relationship Manager said the Cassava Cluster Centre Scheme is a veritable platform for job creation for the local people and enjoined benefitting pilot co-operative societies to keep to the terms of the programme so that other co-Operative societies can also benefit from the scheme.
The Managing Director of Notragolo Nigeria Limited and lead Consultant to the project, Mr Okon Oyo Ita commended UNICEM for championing the scheme for host communities, which he explained would checkmate youth restiveness, poverty alleviation and unemployment.
Mr Oyo-Ita advised the selected pilot co-operative societies not to abuse the scheme through selling of their empowerment packages, warming that it is no more business as usual, emphasising that they should utilise the scheme to improve on their livelihood and that of their families.