Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is arguably the continent’s number one philanthropist going by his deeds of kind gesture in recent time. The Kano billionaire businessman through his foundation has donated fully fitted 150 operational vehicles to the Nigeria Police Force.
The vehicles were received by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ministers, some state government and top officials of the police.
The vice-president said the vehicles would assist in combating crime and described the Foundation Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as a rare entrepreneur who has done so much to grow the nation’s economy.
He said the government needed people like Dangote to join hands with it to grow the economy and provide jobs for the youths. He said: “There have been a lot of talks on private-public partnership, but as we can see Alhaji Dangote is walking the talk.
“Government’s role is to provide the enabling environment while the private sector should take advantage of the opportunities that abound to grow and develop the economy.
”The donation of 150 cars to the Nigerian Police Force is laudable and we thank Aliko Dangote Foundation for this rare gesture which is characteristic of the person of Aliko Dangote. “He has shown over the years to be an entrepreneur with a difference, a man that gives so much to the poor”
The 150 fully fitted operational vehicles donated by the Dangote Foundation to the police
The vice president described the donation as the single largest by any private individual to a security outfit. He urged other Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government to effectively secure the country.
Dangote had said he wanted to be the biggest philanthropist in Africa. He said this on Wednesday in Lafia while disbursing N130 million micro-grant to 13,000 vulnerable and less privileged women in Nasarawa State.
“I do not only want to be known as Africa’s richest man but the biggest philanthropist in Africa. I will continue to use my resources and my voice to help shape a better Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” Dangote said.
The Dangote Foundation had been in the areas of health, education, economic empowerment and disaster relief, expending up to N10 billion annually on charity. The foundation had donated N50 million to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and built the Police Intelligence Hostel Complex in Kwara State.
On the donation of the vehicles, Dangote said: “Today, we are deepening our intervention in security with the donation of these 150 fully-kitted operational vehicles to the Police Force. “These vehicles will support the Nigeria Police Force in surveillance, crime prevention and promote law and order.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris promised that the cars would be well-utilized for the purpose for which they were donated.
The Dangote Foundation was established in 1993 to improve the lives of the less fortunate and make a positive difference in the growth of Nigeria.
