Kano governor hails Dangote’s N1trn education initiative, calls donation of 25% wealth historic

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State says Africa’s leading industrialist, Aliko Dangote, whose philanthropic gesture of dedicating 25 percent of his wealth to charitable causes is a historic milestone, has set a model for philanthropic leadership across the continent.

The governor made the remarks at a high-profile event held at Eko Hotels, Lagos, which attracted top national stakeholders, including the Vice President; the governors of Kano, Gombe, Nasarawa and Borno States; as well as the two Ministers of Education.

At the event on Thursday, the Aliko Dangote Foundation announced a N100 billion education support package targeting 155,000 students nationwide. The Foundation also unveiled an ambitious 10-year plan to invest up to N1 trillion, aiming to reach 1.3 million beneficiaries, with a major focus on out-of-school children.

Read also: Africa’s richest man gives quarter of his wealth to foundation

Governor Yusuf welcomed the initiative, noting that its focus on access, teacher training, and infrastructure aligns closely with Kano’s ongoing education reforms under the state of emergency declared in the sector.

He highlighted several achievements recorded by his administration, including the recruitment of more than 13,000 teachers, rehabilitation of dilapidated schools, reduction of overcrowded classrooms, distribution of desks, and expanded student support through scholarships and tuition fee cuts.

The governor also referenced ongoing efforts to conduct a comprehensive statewide survey to identify out-of-school children and integrate Qur’anic schools into formal learning centers.

Governor Yusuf further praised the Foundation’s decision to invest N15 billion in upgrading Aliko Dangote University, Wudil, to international standards. He noted that the intervention would significantly enhance access, improve educational quality, and boost global competitiveness for Kano’s tertiary institutions.

He reaffirmed the state’s broader educational vision: every school a good school; every child enrolled; every learner engaged; every teacher empowered; every parent involved; and government firmly committed to investing in human capital development.

The governor outlined additional key government actions, including, the recruitment of over 13,000, granting of hundreds of overseas scholarships, and 50% reduction in tuition fees for students in state-owned universities, rehabilitation of 1,358 secondary and technical schools and 5,200 primary schools, and the installation of 250 boreholes and 820 toilet units, in addition to planned construction of 28,264 classrooms and 300 laboratories

Governor Yusuf expressed optimism for deeper partnership and collaboration with the Aliko Dangote Foundation, stressing that the initiatives accurately reflect the needs of the education sector and reinforce Kano’s priorities.