I want to be known as Africa’s richest man, biggest philanthropist – Dangote

Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, has said that he wants to be known as the biggest philanthropist in Africa.

In a statement released on Sunday, Mr Dangote said the desire to impact more in people was the motivation for the establishment and running of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

The foundation, the statement said, has disbursed a total of N2.5 billion to 256,500 women across Kano, Lagos, Jigawa, Kogi , Adamawa , Borno and Yobe states.

The statement said that Mr Dangote made this known at the weekend during the inauguration of the foundation’s “one- off and unconditional micro -grants” programme in Niger State.

The scheme targets 25,000 disadvantaged and vulnerable women in Niger State, who will each be given N10,000 cash “to boost their household income generation.”

Speaking at the programme which held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, Mr Dangote said the Dangote foundation had earmarked N10 billion for the empowerment of vulnerable women in the 774 local government areas of the country.

He said aside being known as Africa’s richest man, he also wants to be regarded as the continent’s biggest philanthropist.

He said, “I do not only want to be known as Africa ’s richest man, but the biggest philanthropist.

“I will continue to use my resources and my voice to help shape a better Nigeria , and Africa as a whole.”

In her remarks, the Executive Director, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Halima Aliko -Dangote, said the foundation was poised to help lift the status of women in the country, saying “If you empower a woman, you empower the whole nation.