Dangote celebrates African Young Global Leaders in Lagos

*Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group interacts with the community of  participating current and alumni Young Global Leaders (YGL) Africa Fellows in an informal conversation about their journey and its impact on their personal and professional development at the recent ADF-YGL Lagos Convening

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dangote Group, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011, in Davos, Switzerland, learned about the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGLs) and the tremendous potential of this unique World Economic Forum (WEF) community to develop the next generation of African leaders from all parts of society.

ConsumerConnect reports 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 Group explains this philosophy has aligned with Aliko Dangote’s vision for the African 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.

According to the conglomerate, the President and CEO of the Group through Aliko Dangote Foundation, (ADF), therefore, partnered with the Forum to establish the Aliko Dangote African Fellowship programme to guarantee the full engagement of young African leaders from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and non-business entities which might otherwise not be able to participate in the Forum’s Young Global Leaders Community.

It is also noted the Fellowship covers the cost of their participation in World Economic Forum and YGL-led events for six years for each Fellow.

Now in the twelfth year of collaboration with the WEF YGL programme, the Aliko Dangote (WEF Africa YGL) Fellows continue to represent the continent on the global stage and give back to their communities in a multifarious, impactful ways, stated Dangote Group.

The partnership has ensured a richness in the diversity of the YGL community by adding an important African perspective, inspiring impact, and making sure that all voices have a chance to be heard where global decisions are debated, discovered, and made.

Since the start of the WEF YGL programme 20 years ago, the World Economic Forum nominates about 200 exceptional young leaders under 40 for a six-year period of membership.

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, according to Dangote.

At any one time, the African YGL Community consists of around 80 active members, 75 percent of whom are eligible for the Dangote Fellowship.

ADF-YGL Lagos Convening holds at Ibeju-Lekki

Fatima Aliko Dangote, Executive Director at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), 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.

The DIL further said the ADF-YGL Lagos Convening held September 8, 2023, has been described as an excellent opportunity for the participating current and alumni YGL Africa Fellows to meet and interact with their patron, Alhaji Aliko Dangote at the site of his most ambitious project to date; the multibillion Dollars Petroleum complex at Lekki.

The Group disclosed the members “were able to interact with Alhaji Aliko Dangote and senior executives of Dangote Group and be inspired by his vision and engage in informal conversation about their journey as YGLs and the impact the community has had on their personal and professional development.”

After a tour of the Fertilizer and the Refinery complex, the immensely impressed alumni were full of praise for their mentor, describing him as “the best hope for Africa”, said the DIL.

Aliko Dangote YGL alumni speak on experiences

The company also related  Victor Ochen from Uganda, who is an Aliko Dangote YGL alumus and Executive Director of African Youth Initiative Network, said he was “extremely impressed with what he saw at the refinery and that the aggressive investment in the project has shown how much faith Aliko Dangote has in the African continent.”

Lauding Dangote’s investment drive, he also appreciated him for his generosity in providing financial means for him to participate in forum events he otherwise would have been unable to do.

Ochen stated: “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.”

Executive Director of African Youth Initiative Network equally declared that “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.”

Likewise, Fatoumata Ba from Senegal, said that trip to the Refinery at Ibeju-Lekki, in Lagos, had further fuelled her ambition to put in all it takes into what she does and make Africa proud the way Dangote is doing.

Ba is described as a Tech Entrepreneur & VC Investor is currently the Founder & Executive Chair of Janngo Capital and Chairwoman of the Board of Auchan in Africa. Explaining what she does and how YGL has impacted her positively, the Senegalese member disclosed that her company, Janngo, is Africa’s largest gender equal tech fund and is backed by top-tier African & International strategic and financial investors; a journey that was made possible through her participation in the YGL programme.

Ba further stated: “Being a YGL has not only been a great opportunity to amplify our dreams but also an opportunity to promote a culture of peace and growth. We are committed to developing and representing Africa with integrity.”

Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director/CEO of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), commended Dangote for his continuous support of the YGLs, and assured him that his investment is not in vain.

Youssoufou noted the young global leaders are achieving exploits in their respective fields and living up to the expectations of being true African future leaders.

Dangote as well encouraged the YGLs to put in their best in their various fields and not be discouraged when setbacks occur, because those are to be expected. The President and CEO of Dangote Group further encouraged them to continue raising their ambition for our continent because “Nothing is Impossible.”

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Caption

L-R: Peace Hyde, Member of Young Global Leadership (YGL) from Ghana, Co-founder Knosk #100 A – Day Charity School Kuje, Kingsley Bangwell, Prof. Vukosi Marinate, Member from South Africa; Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation;i Fatima Aliko Dangote, Group Executive Director, Commercial of Dangote Industries Limited; and Fataumata BA, Founder and Executive Chair, Janngo Capital Senegal, During the Visit of Forum of Young Global Leaders, Aliko Dangote Fellowship Convening 2023 to Dangote Oil Petroleum and Fertilizer Plant Lekki,  Lagos      Photo: Dangote Group