As part of its interventionist’s programme in the education sector, the Dangote Foundation has donated a well-equipped secondary school in Lagos valued at N120 million. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, said this at the inauguration and handing over of the school with well-equipped laboratories to Nawair-Ud-Deen Comprehensive College, Idi-Oro, Mushin, added that the foundation also off ered annual free tuition to 250 indigent pupils.
In a statement by Head of Communications of the group Mr Tony Chiejina, “Aliko Dangote From left: Founder/CEO, CeLD, Mr. Lai Labode, Managing Director/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Group Managing Director/ CEO, Keystone Bank Ltd., Mr. Obeahon Ohiweirei and Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, during the CeLD 500 CEOs Hyper Consumer Centricity Conference and official unveiling of the Cashtoken, in Lagos at the weekend Photo: Sunday Eshiet Foundation started in 1993 with the principle of `to whom much is given, much is expected’ and looking at the less.
The four major goals of Aliko Dangote Foundation are education, health and nutrition, economic empowerment and disaster reliefs,” He said his mission in education was targeted at reducing the number of out-of-school children, supporting talented and underprivileged young children to achieve their full potential as well as educate girls and women on health-related issues. He said apart from donating the school building, the foundation would sponsor 250 students whose parents might not be able to aff ord the yearly school fees.
In addition, he said furniture for both teachers and the students as well as a sound-proof high capacity generator had been provided to ensure constant electricity in the school. “I have already authorised my foundation to come up with a strategic plan to implement a scholarship programme for desiring less privileged children in this community.” According to him, over the past five years, the foundation has spent over N4 billion in building of classrooms, scholarships, upgrading infrastructure across the various universities and behavioral change communication programmes targeted at girls and women. Dangote said: “We have just recently inaugurated the Dangote Business School in Kano, the only Business School in Nigeria that is well equipped. “We will also be inaugurating similar projects in University of Ibadan.
We have done quite a lot in the education system and we are looking to do more. “Investing in the young people to us means we are all working together to build a better Nigeria.” Dangote said in preparing youths to proffer solutions to present challenges, Dangote Academy was established in Kogi to provide specialised training and management skills that would suit the various sectors of the economy. He pledged continued support to government in its quest to provide quality education to the population toward securing a great future for the country.
The Chairman, Nawair-UdDeen Society of Nigeria, Lagos, Alhaji Ola Yussuff , commended Dangote for the donation and for single-handedly undertaking to construct the college. Yussuff said the gesture was in line with Bill Gate’s recent call for serious commitment to the human capital development in the country and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Dangote for his intervention in education and health sectors.