By Francis Ajuonuma
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has celebrated what he described as Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s “ambitious and transformative” philanthropic intervention in Nigeria’s education sector, praising the industrialist for committing 25% of his personal wealth to charitable causes.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf said Dangote’s gesture represents one of the most consequential private investments in human development in Africa.
The remarks were made during a high-level event at Eko Hotels, Lagos, attended by the Vice President, four state governors, and the Ministers of Education.
At the gathering, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) announced a N100 billion national education support package targeting 155,000 students across Nigeria.
The Foundation also unveiled a ten-year vision to spend up to N1 trillion to support 1,325,000 beneficiaries, with a significant focus on tackling the country’s alarming population of out-of-school children.
Governor Yusuf said the initiative aligns strongly with Kano State’s declared state of emergency on education.
He noted that its emphasis on access, infrastructure renewal, and teacher quality directly complements the reforms his administration is implementing to rebuild the sector.
He highlighted key achievements under his government, including the recruitment of over 13,000 teachers, the rehabilitation of thousands of schools, the reduction of overcrowded classrooms, the distribution of desks, scholarships, and substantial cuts in tuition fees for state-owned universities.
He also reiterated the ongoing state-wide survey to identify out-of-school children and the integration of Qur’anic schools into the formal learning framework.
Governor Yusuf further welcomed the Foundation’s decision to allocate N15 billion to upgrade Aliko Dangote University, Wudil, describing it as a timely intervention that will expand access, enhance academic quality, and position the institution for global competitiveness.
He argued that the scale of Dangote’s philanthropy captures the real needs of Nigeria’s education system and reinforces the value of strong public-private partnerships in addressing longstanding structural gaps.
Reaffirming Kano’s broader education vision — from ensuring every child is enrolled in school to empowering every teacher and supporting every parent — Yusuf expressed optimism that sustained collaboration with the Dangote Foundation will accelerate progress toward these goals.
He commended Dangote for “leading by example” and for demonstrating how private-sector commitment can complement government efforts to deliver lasting improvements in human capital development.
