The recent launch of the 2025 Annual National Food Intervention Project valued at N16 billion by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) is quite commendable.
The programme, aimed at providing one million Nigerians with a 10kg bag of rice each, will without a doubt go a long way to complement the federal government’s efforts at boosting food production and ensuring food security in the country,
Speaking at the ceremony last week in Kano, chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said the distribution of one million bags of 10kg rice to the poor and most vulnerable Nigerians in the 774 local government areas is in line with the core values of his foundation.
Dangote, who was represented by his daughter, Mariya Aliko Dangote, said: “This annual initiative, which embodies compassion, solidarity, and shared responsibility, is part of our response to the current economic challenges facing our nation. It reflects our commitment to supporting our communities in line with our core values.”
He said the foundation was kicking off the distribution in Kano state, after which it will proceed to other states, while ensuring that the food reaches those who need it most in all the local government areas of Nigeria.
Dangote, who is Africa’s wealthiest, said food remains a basic human necessity, and this is why the Aliko Dangote Foundation adopted the practice of embarking on a food distribution programme across the states.
Governor Abba K. Yusuf of Kano state, who flagged off the annual national food intervention project, said the intervention reflects the unwavering commitment of Dangote in addressing poverty and hunger in Nigeria.
Aliko Dangote, the chairman of the Dangote Group, recently reclaimed his title as Africa’s richest man, overtaking South African billionaire Johan Rupert. According to the latest data from Bloomberg, Dangote’s wealth currently stands at $13.2 billion, just ahead of Rupert’s net worth, which has declined to $13.1 billion.
This change restores Dangote at the top of Africa’s wealthiest list after losing it to Rupert in August 2024. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index currently ranks Dangote as the 159th richest person in the world, four places ahead of Rupert, who is positioned at 163rd.
Apparently motivated to give back to society, Aliko Dangote floated the Dangote Foundation, which was incorporated in 1994. Its mission is to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.
The foundation has over the years become the largest private foundation in sub Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor. The primary focus of ADF is child nutrition, with wraparound interventions centred on health, education and empowerment, and disaster relief.
Nigeria had experienced a sharp increase in food prices in recent years, compelling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on food insecurity in July 2023, aiming to combat rising food costs. Among measures introduced by President Tinubu to address the skyrocketing food prices in the country was the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on importing essential food items such as beans, wheat, and husked brown rice.
Additionally, the federal government outlined several initiatives and priorities aimed at enhancing food production in the country. These initiatives include the delivery of agricultural inputs to farmers, the repositioning of agricultural institutions, and deepening engagement among farmers, herders, and communities.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, reeled out these measures while addressing the 46th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security, held in Calabar, Cross River state recently.
Kyari stated, “As priority actions, ongoing tasks include the delivery of agro-inputs to farmers, the repositioning of agricultural institutions, and deepening engagement among farmers, herders, and communities. Other initiatives include collaboration on water resource irrigation schemes, soil fertility and information systems, the establishment of laboratories in research institutes, and the repositioning of relevant universities, faculties, and colleges,”
The minister emphasised that the meeting serves as a platform for appraising existing policies, programmes, and projects at the national and sub-national levels to foster synergy, best practices, entrepreneurship, livelihood, as well as growth in the sector.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated that government aims to use infrastructure, technology, and entrepreneurship as fundamental elements in exploring agricultural potential, sectoral linkages, and social inclusion for food security in the country.
The success of these strides was reflected in the drop in the annual inflation rate, including food prices, to 24.48 per cent in January from 34.80 per cent in December 2024. This followed the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The NBS explained that this increase was mainly driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages, restaurants and accommodation services and transport. It said that the food index for January 2025 was 110.03, resulting in a food inflation rate of 26.08 per cent year-on-year.
It is on the backdrop of the drive by the Tinubu renewed hope administration to enhance food security in the country that Blueprint lauds the Dangote Foundation’s N16 billion 2025 Annual National Food Intervention Project, which is quite significant.
We call on other wealthy Nigerians and corporate organisations to emulate the Dangote Foundation in complementing government’s efforts at improving the wellbeing of the people, especially the vulnerable segment of the society.