22nd May, 2025
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has been named among the world’s most influential philanthropic leaders in the inaugural 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy list, becoming the only Nigerian featured in the global ranking.
The TIME Magazine list, released on Tuesday, celebrates 100 individuals from 28 countries whose charitable work is shaping the future of global giving. Dangote, who leads the Aliko Dangote Foundation and Dangote Industries Limited, was listed among 23 individuals under the “Titans” category, alongside international icons such as Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, Melinda Gates, David Beckham, and Prince William.
The recognition comes as the Dangote Foundation continues to channel an average of $35 million annually into programmes focused on nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment across Africa.
“Investing in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment is our contribution to setting Africans up for success,” Dangote said, reiterating the foundation’s mission.
His philanthropic journey took a major leap in 2014 when he endowed the foundation with $1.25 billion. Since then, the foundation has rolled out impactful initiatives including a $100 million multi-year project to fight childhood malnutrition and a landmark partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio in Nigeria – a goal the country achieved in 2020.
In the education sector, Dangote has made historic contributions. His foundation’s N1.2 billion donation for a hostel at Ahmadu Bello University remains the largest private contribution to any Nigerian university. Recently, he pledged $10 million to support the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Kano State.
Beyond infrastructure, the foundation is investing in human capital development. It has launched vocational training, scholarships, and the Mu Shuka Iri (Let’s Plant a Seed) programme in Kano, which empowers women to deliver early childhood education in their communities.
“We need to create the next generation of African leaders,” Dangote stated, underlining his belief in education as a long-term strategy for development.
Reflecting on the roots of his philanthropy, Dangote said, “My mother instilled in me the ethos of giving back, which inspired my philanthropy 30 years ago. I trust my three daughters will continue this legacy, just as they will continue to grow our business and impact. I want to be known not just as Africa’s richest person but also as its biggest philanthropist.”
TIME also recognised Dangote’s rise to immense wealth, currently valued at $23.9 billion, built through ventures in cement, agriculture, and oil refining.
