President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has hailed the Forum of Young Global Leaders describing it as a platform to develop the next generation of African leaders.
According to Dangote, the philosophy of Forum of Young Global Leaders aligned with his vision for a continent whose people are healthier, better educated, and more empowered through enhanced opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education and broaden empowerment opportunities for individuals and communities.
The Young Global Leaders programme is an accelerator for a dynamic community of exceptional young people from all over the world with the vision, courage, and influence to drive positive change in the world.
Dangote, who said this at the YGL Africa fellowship meeting in Lekki, Lagos said the essence of his partnership with the Forum is to engage young African leaders from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and non-business entities who might otherwise not be able to participate in the Forum’s Young Global Leaders Community.
The fellowship covers the cost of their participation at World Economic Forum and YGL-led events for 6 years for each Fellow.
Now in its 12th year, the Aliko Dangote (WEF Africa YGL) Fellows continue to represent the continent on the global stage and give back to their communities in a multiplicity of impactful ways.
Following the partnership with Dangote 12 years ago, the programme has included 15-20 young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa following a rigorous selection process. At any one time, the African YGL Community consists of around eighty active members, 75 per cent of whom are eligible for the Dangote Fellowship.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director Dangote Industries, Fatima Aliko Dangote, expressed pride at the diversity and high proportion of female fellows in the 2023 Cohort, where the nine chosen YGLs represent the media/arts/entertainment, technology & innovation, health, and government sectors.
Managing Director/CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Zouera Youssoufou, thanked the billionaire businessman for his continuous support of the YGLs, and assured him that his investment is not in vain, as the young global leaders are achieving exploits in their respective fields and living up to the expectations of being true African future leaders.
He encouraged them to put in their best in their various fields and not be discouraged when setbacks occur, because those are to be expected. He encouraged them to continue raising their ambition for our continent because “Nothing is Impossible”.
Aliko Dangote YGL Alum and Executive Director ofa African Youth Initiative Network, Victor Ochen from Uganda, commended Dangote for the aggressive investment noting that the project is a reflection of his faith in the continent.
He further commended the billionaire businessman for his generosity in providing financial means for him to participate in forum events he otherwise would have been unable to do.
He said, “I am so happy with what Dangote is doing in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. This is a man that is investing in the youth through his foundation and employing tens of thousands of Africans, in his various plants. I am so humbled to be here, and to learn from the expertise of this man whom God has blessed our continent with…I thank Dangote for his generosity, which has provided many young African leaders, regardless of the country, the much-needed financial means to participate in YGL events. Without the support of ADF, our active participation would not have been possible.”
