News
Dangote Foundation to Support Two Million Women Through Refinery IPO
Ibrahim Khalil
President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has announced plans by the Aliko Dangote Foundation to partner with state governments to support vulnerable women across Nigeria to acquire shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited Initial Public Offering (IPO).
KANO FOCUS reports that Alhaji Dangote disclosed this in New York during the 81st United Nations General Assembly while responding to a question from the Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Dr Goje Mohammed.
The discussion focused on how partnerships between government and the private sector could support conflict-affected communities, particularly widows, by providing them with opportunities to build sustainable financial assets.
Alhaji Dangote said the foundation would work with state governments to enable vulnerable women, including widows and victims of conflict, to participate in the refinery’s share offering.
According to him, the initiative would provide women who might otherwise be excluded from the capital market with an opportunity to become shareholders in one of Africa’s major industrial enterprises.
“We are partnering with state governments to ensure that widows and other vulnerable women are able to buy shares in the refinery,” Alhaji Dangote said.
He added that the foundation would provide additional shares to women who participate in the IPO, allowing them to build long-term financial assets.
“Beyond enabling them to buy shares, the Foundation will also support them by donating additional shares that they can hold as savings for the future,” he said.
Alhaji Dangote said the programme would target about two million women across the country.
“We are looking at reaching about two million women through this initiative,” he added.
The proposed programme forms part of the broader objectives of the Dangote Refinery’s “People’s IPO”, which seeks to widen participation in the ownership of the refinery by allowing more Nigerians to acquire equity in the company.
The initiative could be particularly relevant to conflict-affected communities such as Yobe, where widows and vulnerable households continue to face economic challenges arising from prolonged insecurity.
Through the partnership with state governments, the foundation plans to create a structured mechanism for vulnerable women to participate in the IPO and acquire assets that could provide long-term financial value.
The initiative also positions equity ownership as a potential tool for financial inclusion and economic empowerment, particularly for women who have limited access to formal investment opportunities.
If implemented as announced, the programme would extend participation in the Dangote Refinery IPO beyond conventional investors to include some of Nigeria’s most economically vulnerable women.
The foundation’s proposed support would therefore combine direct participation in the capital market with additional share ownership intended to help beneficiaries build financial assets for the future.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has nominated his spokesperson, Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and Hon. Balarabe Sa’idu Gani for appointment as commissioners.
KANO FOCUS reports that their names have been forwarded to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The Speaker of the House, Jibril Isma’il Falgore, announced the nominations during plenary on Monday after reading a letter from the governor conveying their names for consideration.
Falgore said the nominees would undergo screening in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa currently serves as the governor’s spokesperson.
The latest nominations come barely a week after the Assembly screened and confirmed six commissioner nominees, including former commissioners Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa and Professor Sani Lawan, a former chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission.
The two nominees are expected to appear before the Assembly for screening before their confirmation.
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