Linus Oota , Lafia
President, Dangote Groups and Chairman, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has revealed that he does not only want to be known as Africa’s richest man but the biggest philanthropist in the continent.
Dangote vowed to continue to use his resources to help shape a better Nigeria and Africa, as a whole.
He stated this, in Lafia, yesterday, during the launch/disbursement of N130 million donation to 13,000 vulnerable women in Nasarawa by the Aliko Dangote Foundation Micro Grant Programme.
“I do not only want to be known as Africa richest man but the biggest philanthropist in Africa. I will continue to use my resources to help shape a better Nigeria and Africa, as a whole.”
He also revealed how the Aliko Dangote Foundation started in 1993 with the belief that, by supporting social and economic change, through strategic investment and intervention, it will improves the lives of the less-fortunate and that that is what will make a positive difference in our dear nation.
Alhaji Dangote said the four major goals of thw foundation are health and nutrition, education, economic empowerment and disaster relief
“The micro grant programme is one of the components of economic empowerment scheme of the foundation, it provides advantage of the vulnerable women with unconditional N10,000 cash transfer to boost their household income generation.
“This, we believe, will help reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs.”
The programme, which was launched a few years ago, and is being systematically rolled out nationwide, is targetting minimum of 1,000 vulnerable women in each of the 774 local government areas in the country.
It is estimated that the foundation will spend about N10 billion while some few states with large population will get a little above more.
“Apart from this, we also have a programme where which we lend money, through the Bank of Industry, at zero interest, and this will be given to people in medium-scale industries.
“The programme is equally aimed at complimenting the effort of the state government in the economic empowerment and poverty-reduction drive.
“For the first time in the history of the programme, we have partnered with Access Bank, to open accounts for all the 13,000 beneficiaries in Nasarawa state
“We will issue them with customised debit cards which we are unveiling today (yesterday). In addition to the programme, we are introducing banking to their doorsteps, in their local communities.”
“They no longer need to travel long distance to the local government headquarters for banking services as they can do their banking transactions communities going forward” he said
He explained that the accounts have all been credited with the grants and adequate number of banks agents trained and mobilise to provide the beneficiaries with basic banking activities.
He also said the foundation and Access Bank team will be going to each council across the state to distribute the cards, to the selected beneficiaries.
Also, Nasarawa Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura said the foundation’s giant strides will compliment “government efforts in our determination to provide soccure and necessities of life to the citizenry.”
He said the benevolence is in consonance with his administration’s initiative on women empowerment.