Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, for dedicating 25 percent of his wealth to charitable causes.
He described the gesture as a transformative milestone for national development and a model for philanthropy across Africa.
The Governor made the remark during a high-level gathering in Lagos attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governors from Kano, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Borno states, as well as the Ministers of Education.
At the event, the Aliko Dangote Foundation unveiled a N100 billion education support initiative targeting 155,000 students nationwide.
The Foundation also announced a long-term plan to invest up to N1 trillion over the next decade to reach more than 1.3 million beneficiaries, with a strong focus on out-of-school children.
Governor Yusuf noted that the initiative aligns with broader national efforts to improve access, teacher quality, and learning infrastructure, reinforcing Kano’s ongoing education reforms under the state’s declared emergency in the sector.
He highlighted recent improvements in Kano, including the recruitment of over 13,000 teachers, large-scale rehabilitation of schools, reduction of classroom congestion, distribution of desks, and expanded scholarship support.
The state is also conducting a survey to identify out-of-school children and integrate Qur’anic schools into mainstream education.
He also welcomed the Foundation’s decision to invest N15 billion in upgrading Aliko Dangote University, Wudil, to international standards, saying it would enhance tertiary education quality and access for Kano and the country at large.
Governor Yusuf reaffirmed Kano’s vision of ensuring every Nigerian child has access to functional education and said partnerships with institutions like the Dangote Foundation are critical to achieving this goal.
He expressed confidence that the collaboration will yield long-term benefits and accelerate efforts to close learning gaps across the country.
PIAK