President/CEO, Dangote Group
The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has announced plans for the Aliko Dangote Foundation to collaborate with state governments to empower vulnerable women across Nigeria through participation in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Dangote made the announcement 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 can help conflict-affected communities, particularly widows, build sustainable financial futures through investment opportunities. “We are partnering with state governments to ensure that widows and other vulnerable women are able to buy shares in the refinery,” he said.
He explained that women who purchase shares under the IPO will receive an additional allotment of shares from the Foundation, helping them establish a long-term financial asset. “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,” Dangote noted.
The programme targets up to two million women nationwide, making it one of the largest financial inclusion and women’s empowerment initiatives linked to Nigeria’s capital market. “We are looking at reaching about two million women through this initiative,” he added.
Dangote emphasized that collaboration between the Foundation and state governments will create a structured framework for supporting vulnerable women to participate in the IPO, reinforcing the role of investment and equity ownership as tools for economic empowerment, financial inclusion and social development.
Through this initiative, the ownership opportunity presented by the Dangote Refinery IPO will be extended to some of Nigeria’s most vulnerable women, helping them build assets, secure their futures and participate directly in the growth of a landmark national enterprise.