The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has donated N8 billion to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Presidential Library.
Dangote made the donation on Thursday during the unveiling of the book “A Journey in Service,” the autobiography of Babangida who served as Head of State from 1985 until his resignation in 1993.
The Nigerian billionaire noted that the N8 billion will be paid at a rate of N2 billion annually over the four-year period allocated for the project’s completion.
He further pledged that if the project extends beyond this timeframe, he would continue to donate N2 billion annually until it is finished.
Speaking at the event, Dangote said: “Your Excellency, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all you have done for Nigeria. Many may not realise that you were the architect of the private sector in Nigeria. Anyone in the private sector who has achieved prominence today owes it to you, as you provided us with the necessary licences. In the past, we used to struggle to obtain licences through intermediaries, including Indians.
“Your Excellency, in 1986, you abolished the requirements for import licences, and it was because of that decision that we were able to reach the highest levels of growth. I recall a day when you granted almost 30 of us banking licences. You also instructed five Nigerians to pay N1 million each for oil blocs.
“Your Excellency, I could continue to list all the reforms you introduced that liberated the private sector, which is why Nigeria has more private sector involvement than any other country in Africa. It is only in Nigeria where government contribution to GDP is a mere 15%, with the remainder being driven by the private sector.
“I want to thank you once again, and I am confident that future leaders will continue to follow your example, working closely with the private sector.”
Other prominent Nigerians also pledged contributions to the library’s construction.
The Chief Launcher and Founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, donated N5 billion, while the co-Chief Launcher and Founder of the TY Danjuma Foundation, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, donated N3 billion.
