Aliko Dangote announces N200bn endowment for Dangote Foundation

Source: pointblanknews.com

Aliko Dangote foremost Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist has

endowed Dangote Foundation with N200 billion. Speaking in Lagos, Mr.

Dangote noted that, “Dangote foundation is now 20 years old. This initial

endowment will assure that Dangote Foundation has secure and steady

funding to carry out its mission as we significantly scale up our work.

The reconstituted board of trustees includes, Aliko Dangote, Sani Dangote,

Halima Aliko Dangote, Olakunle Alake, A B Mahmoud (SAN), Aigboje

Aig-Imoukhuede, Angela Adebayo, Hajara Adeola and Yvonne Ike. And last

year we appointed Adhiambo Odaga, Managing Director to grow the Dangote

Foundation team. The stage is set now for the next stage of our

institutional growth.”
 
Mr. Dangote further stated that, “Going forward- from the second quarter

of this year, we will lay greater emphasis on youth and women empowerment

through large scale efforts that cultivate meaningful change in their

lives.”
 
Mr. Dangote established Dangote Foundation in 1994 to extend the impact of

his growing business operations. Current interventions that focus on youth

and women, includes national cash transfer programme designed to

complement state governments' poverty alleviation programmes by providing

N 10,000 grants to at least 1,000 women and youth in each of Nigeria's 774

Local Government Areas, LGAs. It has already reached 256,500 women and

youth across the 157 local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, Kogi,

Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. The next phase of cash disbursement will target

select states in the South-West geopolitical zone.

 
The innovative N10 Billion Dangote Foundation/Bank of Industry micro,

small and medium enterprises fund stimulates economic growth and job

creation. Dangote Foundation's funds are offered at zero percent interest

rate while Bank of Industry's funds are offered at ten percent interest

rate resulting in an effective interest rate of five percent which is the

lowest interest rate credit available in the country. One hundred and

thirty six (136) businesses in 27 states have accessed the fund so far.