The management of Dangote Cement Plc has said that it is saddened by the passing this evening of Ruth Otabor, who was injured in a recent road incident involving one of its trucks in Auchi, Edo State.
Ruth was hit by a Dangote Cement truck on August 13, 2025 close to her school, Auchi Polytechnic.
In a statement in Lagos, the management of Dangote Cement said “on behalf of the entire Dangote Group, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time”.
Throwing some light on what the company has been doing to save the life of Ruth, the management said that “since the accident, our officials and insurance partners have been by her side, covering all financial and medical costs and supporting her family”.
It disclosed that arrangement had been made for her to be flown to India for advanced treatment pending medical clearance by her doctors, but regretted that “despite these efforts and Ruth’s brave fight to live, we lost her today”.
The management said: “At Dangote Group, safety, accountability, and compassion remain at the core of our operations”, adding that “we remain committed to strengthening our safety systems and supporting those affected in moment of tragedy”.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
