For his unparalleled contributions to the development of the human society in Africa and the world over, Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has been honoured with this year’s the Clinton Global Citizen Award for leadership in private sector.
Amid pomp, Dangote held aloft the award bestowed on him by the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) which was hosted by former US President, Bill Clinton, during a colourful dinner event in New York. The event boasted of global audience including political leaders, business community and other honourees chosen based on their innovative approaches and on the demonstrated results and sustainability of their work.
Also, Dangote Cement won the Business of the Year Award at the African Business Awards ceremony on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The judging panel applauded Dangote Cement for its continued drive to develop new tailored products, gain market share and expand its activities throughout the continent.
The CGI said it recognised the Dangote’s exemplary and selfless dedication to a better life by positively impacting the lives of people globally through numerous philanthropic initiatives implemented through the Dangote Foundation.
Bill Clinton, who presented the award to the daughter of the business magnate, Halima, who represented him, said Aliko had raised the bar of philanthropy by an African, which is worthy of emulation.
He eulogised the public spirit and virtue of Dangote and urged him to continue to contribute to the development of human kind so that the world would be a better place for all where poverty and hunger would be reduced to the barest minimum.
In her response, Halima Dangote, expressed her happiness at the recognition for her father’s humble contributions to achieve a better society for all.
She said: “This award is coming at a time we are expanding both business and philanthropic footprints globally and we are optimistic about creating value that transcends borders, while improving the quality of lives of people globally.
I must say that we are humbled by this recognition and we are encouraged to double our efforts as we work towards promoting Africa’s economic renaissance.
While we celebrate Africa’s impressive progress, many of these gains rest on a delicate foundation of extreme poverty, insecurity, hunger, disease and poor education and we are proud of the effort of Dangote Foundation overseeing the implementation of our intervention initiatives along key areas of health, education, empowerment and humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters to bring about sustainable growth,” Halima stated.
Recently, the Dangote Foundation in 2015 donated $1 million to Nepal to provide relief for the victims of Nepal’s earthquakes and $153 million to boost Nigeria’s fight against Ebola Virus Disease that affected four West African countries namely Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria in 2014.
The roll call at the 2015 CGCA included: Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister for International Cooperation and Development, United Arab Emirates; President, Zayed University for Leadership in Public Service; Syeda Ghulam Fatima; General Secretary, Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan for Leadership in Civil Society; Raj Panjabi, and Chief Executive Officer, Last Mile Health for Leadership in Humanitarian Response among others
Established in 2007, the Clinton Global Citizen Awards embody President Bill Clinton’s call to action by honoring outstanding individuals who have proven that diverse sectors of society can work together successfully to devise solutions that effect positive, lasting social change.
After nomination by Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) members, CGI staff, and other global leaders, honourees are chosen based on their innovative approaches, and on the demonstrated results and sustainability of their work. CGI said the awardees through their uncommon abilities to strengthen civil society have inspired all to take action and to become true global citizens.
Dangote endowed the foundation with $1.35billion in March 2014, to ensure that the foundation, has secure and steady funding to carry out its mission as it significantly scales up its work both within and outside the shores of the country.
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