Victor EzejaAliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and the President of Dangote Group, has been named in the TIME Magazine’s inaugural 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy list.
Dangote is the only Nigerian on the list of 100 of the world’s most prominent philanthropists who are making a difference around the world.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe TIME100 Philanthropy list honors individuals from 28 countries, highlighting their contributions in four categories: Titans, Leaders, Trailblazers, and Innovators.
Dangote was named one of the 23 global Titans, alongside humanitarian icons such as Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Bloomberg, and Melinda Gates.
TIME recognised Dangote’s incredible financial career, noting how he amassed a $23.9 billion fortune through investments in cement, agriculture, and oil refining.
However, it was his extensive humanitarian activity through the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) that garnered international attention.
Dangote has endowed the foundation with $1.25 billion since 2014, and it presently distributes approximately $35 million per year to charity projects across Africa.
“Investing in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment is our contribution to setting Africans up for success,” Dangote remarked.
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The ADF’s flagship initiative is a $100 million multi-year program to tackle acute childhood malnutrition.
The foundation was also crucial in a vaccine alliance, together with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other stakeholders, that played a major role in polio eradication in Nigeria and the African continent, a milestone confirmed by the World Health Organisation in 2020.
Dangote’s impact on education has been tremendous. He recently gave $10 million to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Kano. His foundation earlier contributed a N1.2 billion hostel to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, making it the highest single donation to a Nigerian university at that time.
The foundation also supports grassroots education development. The “Mu Shuka Iri” (Let’s Plant a Seed) initiative trains native Kano women, known as “Aunties,” in Montessori teaching techniques so that they can serve as community educators.
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Scholarships at the secondary and tertiary levels, vocational training, and fellowships through the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders programme are examples of additional educational interventions.
Dangote’s membership in the Global Business Coalition for Education demonstrates his commitment to advancing Africa’s future through education and leadership development.
“My mother instilled in me the value of giving back, which sparked my philanthropy 30 years ago.” I am confident that my three daughters will carry on this legacy, as well as expand our business and impact. “I want to be known not only as Africa’s richest person, but also as its largest philanthropist,” Dangote stated.
Dangote’s philanthropic efforts have been firmly established on the global stage as a beacon of impact-driven leadership in Africa and beyond, thanks to TIME Magazine’s recognition.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
