By Abdullahi Lukman
Aliko Dangote, recognised as Africa’s wealthiest individual and a leading humanitarian, has reaffirmed his deep commitment to addressing poverty and vulnerability across Nigeria and the broader African continent.
Speaking at the prestigious TIME100 Impact Dinner in New York City, Dangote announced plans to significantly increase funding for his philanthropic endeavors, underscoring his lifelong dedication to giving back.
The event, which saw Dangote named among TIME Magazine’s inaugural list of 100 top philanthropists, highlighted his foundation’s ongoing impact. The Aliko Dangote Foundation, which currently allocates an average of $35 million annually to programs in Africa, is set to expand its reach.
Dangote was featured as one of 23 “Titans” on the influential list, sharing company with global figures such as Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Melinda Gates.
“Investing in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment is our contribution to setting Africans up for success,” Dangote remarked, articulating the core tenets of his foundation’s work.
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The foundation’s initiatives are extensive, including a $100 million multi-year program to combat severe childhood malnutrition.
Its past collaborations, such as the vaccine program with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, were instrumental in Nigeria’s polio eradication, contributing to the World Health Organization’s 2020 declaration of Africa as polio-free.
Education remains a cornerstone of Dangote’s philanthropic vision. He recently pledged $10 million to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Kano State, adding to a legacy of significant educational infrastructure support.
Notably, a N1.2 billion hostel donated by his foundation to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was, at the time, the largest individual contribution to a Nigerian university.
The foundation also champions early childhood education through programs like “Mu Shuka Iri” and provides vocational training and scholarships, aiming to cultivate “the next generation of African leaders.”
Dangote’s philanthropic journey, he revealed, was inspired by his mother’s instilled ethos of giving. He expressed his ambition “to be known not just as Africa’s richest person but also as its biggest philanthropist,” and conveyed confidence that his three daughters would carry forward this dual legacy of business growth and societal impact.
His inclusion in the TIME100 Impact list further solidifies his standing as a major force for positive change on the global stage.
