Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, has earned global recognition for his philanthropic work, securing a coveted spot on TIME Magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list.
The list, unveiled on Tuesday, celebrates the 100 most influential individuals shaping the future of global giving, and Dangote stands tall as the only Nigerian featured.
Dangote, who also chairs the Aliko Dangote Foundation, was named among the 23 “Titans” on the list, a category reserved for individuals whose philanthropic reach is matched by their influence and commitment.
Other globally revered figures honoured alongside him include billionaire philanthropists Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Bloomberg, and Melinda Gates.
TIME spotlighted Dangote’s philanthropic legacy, highlighting the $1.25 billion endowment he made to his foundation in 2014.
The foundation now spends an average of $35 million annually on a broad range of social development programmes spanning health, nutrition, education, and economic empowerment across Africa.
“Investing in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment is our contribution to setting Africans up for success,” Dangote told TIME, reinforcing the mission of his foundation.
Among his most impactful interventions is a $100 million multi-year initiative targeting severe childhood malnutrition, a pressing issue in Nigeria and many parts of Africa.
Dangote’s health initiatives have also helped reshape the continent’s disease landscape. His foundation played a critical role in a historic vaccine drive, partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio from Nigeria.
This collaborative effort culminated in the World Health Organization declaring Africa polio-free in 2020. Dangote’s philanthropic vision extends well beyond healthcare.
Education, he believes, is the cornerstone of Africa’s future. He recently donated $10 million to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Kano State, an institution at the heart of his push for STEM development.
In 2019, his foundation constructed a N1.2 billion hostel for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the largest single donation ever made to a Nigerian university.
Through his involvement with The Global Business Coalition for Education, Dangote has also invested in early childhood learning.
One standout initiative, the Mu Shuka Iri (“Let’s Plant a Seed”) programme in Kano, trains local women, known as “Aunties,” in Montessori-style methods to serve as community educators.
His foundation’s educational outreach includes scholarships for secondary and tertiary students, vocational training, and annual fellowships through the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders programme.
Speaking on his philanthropic journey, Dangote credited his mother for instilling the values that guide his giving.
“My mother instilled in me the ethos of giving back, which inspired my philanthropy 30 years ago.
“I trust my three daughters will continue this legacy, just as they will continue to grow our business and impact.
“I want to be known not just as Africa’s richest person but also as its biggest philanthropist,” he said.
Dangote’s inclusion on TIME’s prestigious list is a powerful testament to how wealth can be leveraged for sustainable impact.
His rise from building a fortune in cement, agriculture, and oil refining, now valued at $23.9 billion, to becoming a philanthropic titan is emblematic of a new breed of African business leaders who are reshaping global narratives on wealth and responsibility.
With his foundation’s growing footprint and unwavering focus on systemic change, Aliko Dangote continues to set the standard for philanthropy not just in Africa, but around the world.
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