Aliko Dangote, the President of the Dangote Group, has allocated approximately N15 billion towards a food intervention programme benefiting communities across Nigeria.
Under the auspices of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the food intervention initiative, inaugurated in Kano, aims to distribute over one million 10-kg bags of food across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria’s 36 states and Federal Capital Territory.
During the official launch of the programme, Dangote emphasised the significance of this initiative in addressing the prevailing economic challenges in the nation. He highlighted the importance of compassion and solidarity, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, urging all stakeholders to collaborate in combating hunger and deprivation.
The food intervention programme, scheduled from March to early April 2024, involves collaboration with state and local governments, as well as community partners, to ensure equitable distribution of rice to the most vulnerable populations nationwide, irrespective of demographics or affiliations.
Zouera Youssoufou, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, announced additional initiatives, including the distribution of 10,000 iftar meals during Ramadan in Kano municipality and the foundation’s ongoing bread relief programme, which has been providing over 32,000 family-size loaves of bread daily in Kano and Lagos States since 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commending Dangote’s philanthropic efforts, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf urged other affluent Nigerians to follow suit in supporting government initiatives aimed at alleviating economic hardships.
Fatima Aliko Dangote, Group Executive Director, Commercial, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities, emphasising the foundation’s longstanding tradition of impactful philanthropy. She reiterated the foundation’s focus on child nutrition and its holistic approach to health, education, empowerment, and disaster relief.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation, established by Aliko Dangote, stands as the largest private foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with a significant endowment aimed at addressing critical societal challenges and fostering inclusive development across the continent.