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Dangote bags Nigerien national Honour over his Foundation’s Health Intervention 

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3 years ago

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L-R, President deLa Repulique of Niger, S.E.M.Mohamed Bazoum, President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote, With the Award of Order Du Merite Du Niger, Operateur Economique et Philanthropy Dr Commandeur ,, In Niger Republic On Wednesday 3rd August 2022

 

 

 

President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote has been conferred with the Commander of the Order of Merit of Niger award by the President of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey.

 

According to the certificate of conferment presented to Dangote in Niamey, the nation’s capital, the award was in appreciation for his services rendered to the Republic of Niger and as well as a tribute to his business acumen and philanthropy. It should be recalled that his Foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) intervened in various ways to improve healthcare and routine immunisation in Niger Republic and her neighbouring countries namely Nigeria and Chad.

Recalled that Aliko Dangote had earlier been conferred with the Commander of the National Order of Valour of the Republic of Cameroon, and the Grand Commander of the National Order of the Republic of Benin.

 

In a related development, Aliko Dangote Foundation, alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and GAVI the Vaccine Alliance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of the Republic of Niger on a collaboration for improving the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in Diffa, Maradi and Zinder regions, which are along the country’s southern border with Nigeria.

 

The Nigerien national award by the president is in recognition of the various health-related interventions by the Aliko Dangote Foundation including financial support to the tune of $500,000 to help fight a previous Meningitis outbreak and another cholera outbreak; NGN250 million for the provision of food for refugees and displaced persons; and $1,000,000 (one million dollars) support for enhanced routine immunisation in the three identified regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder.

 

Aliko Dangote Foundation and BMGF had played key roles in a historic certification by the World Health Organisation of a polio-free Nigeria and Africa in August 2020. The same successful template which was applied to ensure eradication of polio in northern Nigeria in partnership with six states namely Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe, is also being applied by ADF to enhance routine immunisation and adequate vaccination around Nigeria’s borders with the Republics of Niger and Chad.

 

The three regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder share a common border with Northern Nigeria and together make up almost 28% of Niger’s land area and about 40% of the country’s population.

 

Speaking on the MoU partnership, which was signed in May 2022, the Managing Director of Aliko Dangote Foundation stated that “ADF is committing $1 million over 3 years; BMGF are providing $2 million, while GAVI is bringing in $10 million worth of vaccines under this MoU. ADF and BMGF are bringing in the money required to stimulate demand for the vaccines that GAVI is bringing in to ensure maximum uptake and coverage.”

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The MoU was signed between the Government of the Republic of Niger represented by the Ministry of Public Health, the Population and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Interior & Decentralisation and the Ministry of Finance on the one hand, and the Incorporated Trustees of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), two independent endowed charities and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, a Global Public-Private Partnership on the other hand.

 

The Foundations are committed to providing technical and financial support to the Government of Niger to strengthen its vaccine programmes gradually and sustainably improve its coverage in the Diffa, Maradi and Zinder regions in order to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.

 

Gavi, according to the MoU, will continue its support for immunisation in the selected priority districts in the three regions, in accordance with the agreement already signed with the Government of Niger, the strategic objectives of the Health System Strengthening Project (HSS3) grant and the approved financing.

 

In order to protect the target populations against poliomyelitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases, the government of Niger is committed to strengthening the routine vaccine programme and to reduce morbidity and mortality in the regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder.

 

The objective of the MoU is to collaborate on strengthening vaccination in Niger to improve the delivery of routine vaccine services in the three regions in order to achieve full vaccination coverage of 90% of the target population by December 2024; to ensure that at least 90% of districts achieve 90% Penta 3 vaccination coverage; to vaccinate 90% of the zero doses identified; to stop poliovirus transmission and maintain polio-free status; and to ensure consistent national funding and procurement of vaccines in order to secure a sustained and steady supply of all routine vaccines throughout the country.

 

In August 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari praised Bill and Melinda Gates, Aliko Dangote and Emeka Offor at the formal certification of the Wild Polio Virus eradication in the African region during the virtual session of the 70th World Health Organisation (WHO) regional committee for Africa in the State House, Abuja.

 

His commendation came as Aliko Dangote emphasised the need for governments across Africa, particularly the federal and state governments in Nigeria, to increase their budgetary allocations to the health sector to improve basic healthcare for the people. Dangote, in his remarks at the event, expressed deep satisfaction at the final eradication of wild polio in Nigeria, and by extension Africa after years of hard work and collaboration among stakeholders.

 

The renowned humanitarian, who was commended alongside the Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, pledged to devote more of his wealth to support the provision of adequate quality healthcare to curb maternal and child mortality.

 

Dangote commended the efforts of top officials of the Foundation, including the CEO, Zouera Youssoufou and Community Engagement Lead Ahmed Iya for their untiring efforts in ensuring the end of polio in Nigeria, as well as the various state and federal government agencies and development partners who collaborated to make the certification possible.

 

These, among others, include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the WHO, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DfID) (now FCDO), the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Governors and Health Ministries of Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto and Yobe States.

 

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President Tinubu Sends New Nominations For NMDPRA and NUPRC Heads Following Their Resignations

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12 hours ago

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December 17, 2025

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NMDPRA Boss, Engr. Farouk, Resigns Amidst Fraud Allegation

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Ahmed Farouk, has tendered his resignation letter amidst corruption allegations levelled against him by the President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

The development was announced on Wednesday evening by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

This newspaper had reported that the Dangote’s petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) specifically alleges that Ahmed spent over $7 million on his children’s education in Switzerland—funds Dangote claims cannot be justified by a public servant’s legitimate earnings. The petition calls for Ahmed’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution.

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Following the petition, the ICPC vows to scrutinize the allegation with due diligence.

Meanwhile, pursuant to the resignation of Engr. Farouk, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent new nomination for the NMDPRA position to the Senate for confirmation.

The new nominee is Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed.

He was born in 1957 in Gombe, and graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. He was announced today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.

His prior roles include Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Chair of the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.

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Governor Yusuf deliberated on Kano’s Glory at One Kano Agenda 2 day conference on economy and politics

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14 hours ago

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December 17, 2025

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The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reflected on the past glory and future prospects of Kano during the One Kano Agenda two-day conference on economy and politics held at Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Faruk Umar Ibrahim, Governor Yusuf emphasized the importance of unity, moral revival, and collective responsibility in restoring Kano’s historic position as a hub of commerce, culture, and education.

Delivering the governor’s message, Ibrahim said: “If we had known what Kano is, we would have kept quiet and listened well.” He recalled a friend’s warning from 40 years ago that a time might come when people would be “ejected from Kano,” stressing the need to follow the “Dambatta way” of resilience and reform.

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Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to the organizers of the conference, describing the movement as a noble effort deserving the support of all patriotic Kano citizens. He noted that Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state with 65 percent of its population being youth, was once regarded as a paradise and a gathering place for businessmen, scholars, and elites.

He lamented that the state now faces challenges such as enmity among people, lack of mutual support, moral decadence, and drug abuse. “The way out is for Kano people to unite. No one can shape the state except ourselves. We should not fold our arms and allow war to consume us,” he declared.

The governor assured that beginning next year, his administration will embark on fresh projects after fulfilling all campaign promises by December 2025.

On his part the Director General of One Kano Agenda, Abbas Abdullahi Yakasai, welcomed participants and underscored the urgency of economic and political reform. He described Kano as not just a state but the “heartbeat of the northern economy,” urging stakeholders to focus on reviving its economic strength.

Yakasai particularly called on the youth to rise to the occasion, stressing that their contributions are vital to shaping Kano’s future. “In all we do, we have to look at Kano first. We shouldn’t fold our arms and allow people to destroy the state,” he said.

He further highlighted Governor Yusuf’s concern for women, the elderly, and children, noting that the administration is committed to supporting vulnerable groups while confronting the enemies of Kano.

The conference brought together political leaders, academics, and community stakeholders, served as a platform to deliberate on Kano’s economic revival and political stability.

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NLC Proceeds with Planned Protest Over Insecurity Despite Meeting with the President

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14 hours ago

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December 17, 2025

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Workers and civil society groups took to the streets across Nigeria on Wednesday in a nationwide protest against rampant insecurity and a deepening economic crisis. The demonstrations, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), underscore growing public frustration with the state of the nation.

Despite a last-minute meeting between NLC President Joe Ajaero and President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night, the union proceeded with the planned action, citing unresolved critical issues.

The protest follows a December 4 resolution by the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC), which declared the nation’s security situation “alarming and unacceptable.” The union pointed to the November 17 abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State—where two staff members were killed—as a stark example. The NEC strongly condemned the reported withdrawal of security personnel prior to that attack.

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In Abuja, protesters gathered at the NLC Secretariat, joined by civil society allies including activist Omoyele Sowore. In Lagos, a large crowd assembled in Ikeja, carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding government action against kidnappings and violent crime. The sentiment was captured by one protester who told News Central TV, “Any kidnapper should be sentenced to death. They should kill them immediately.”

Beyond insecurity, the NLC highlighted a range of unaddressed grievances, including: unresolved agreements with the Federal Government, a crippling rise in the cost of living, and the direct impact of violence on workers’ safety, productivity, and livelihoods.

The union lamented the deaths of numerous members, including teachers, farmers, and artisans, amid what it termed government inaction.

Framing the protest as a constitutional right and civic duty, the NLC aims to mobilise public opinion and compel concrete reforms. In a December 10 notice to its state chapters, the union emphasised peaceful demonstrations and called on the police who were duly notified to protect citizens’ right to assemble.

“Solidarity is our shield,” the union stated, urging authorities to prioritise the safety and welfare of Nigerians above all else.

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