Nigerian billionaire businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has donated $2 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help the survivors of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

The aid was made through the Dangote Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dangote Industries Limited, West Africa's leading manufacturing conglomerate.

“The Dangote Foundation and the entire management and staff of Dangote Industries Limited feel a real need to make a modest contribution to help make life a little more bearable for the survivors in Pakistan,” said Dangote, President of the Dangote Foundation.

“The hearts of all Africans go out to the people of Pakistan as they go through this ordeal. Africa is not only a recipient of humanitarian aid, but is also able to help her brothers and sisters in Pakistan and elsewhere where there is suffering. Helping our family, in this case our global family is part of Africa’s traditional values,” he added.

The donations are expected to provide life-saving food relief to the millions of Pakistanis whose lives have been turned upside down by this disaster as well as help with the logistics of the entire humanitarian community working to supply urgent food and other supplies to the estimated six million Pakistanis WFP is serving who have lost their homes and livelihoods due to the heavy monsoon rains that have hit the country.

Commenting on the donation made by Dangote Foundation, Sandy Westlake of the WFP Private Sector Partnerships said: “We are completely humbled by the Dangote Foundation’s generous donation on behalf of WFP and the people of Pakistan. Your contribution will make a life-saving difference and allow WFP to continue its important work on the ground. The funds for Pakistan are absolutely critical and will do a lot to further WFP’s focus on saving lives in the flood zone.”

Westlake, who also described the donation as a testament to the Dangote Foundation’s commitment to broadening its philanthropic reach globally, said support at this level was crucial towards providing immediate food relief to those most affected by the flood.

High Commissioner for Pakistan, Rtd. Major General Asif Duraiz Akhatar, expressed profound appreciation to the Dangote Foundation, saying: “the people and government of Pakistan will forever remain grateful to the Dangote Foundation for this big sacrifice that will greatly address the needs of the people.”

The foundation also last week donated 50 trucks of different food items, with a total value of over N100 million, to the government of Niger Republic. The move, according to the foundation, was also meant to assist the government in addressing the acute famine, currently plaguing the country.

Niger faces the worst hunger crisis in its history, with almost half the population in desperate need of food.
For 2010, the foundation has provided food items to the victims of Jos and Bauchi crisis to the tune of over N70 million; provided dialysis machine to Lagos Island General Hospital and also sunk boreholes in various communities in the country, totalling over N100 million.

In making this donation, the Dangote Group, whose activities include cement, sugar, salt, flour and pasta, said it is staying true to its statement goals.

“Our mission at the Dangote Group has always been to touch the lives of people by providing their basic needs. Our vision is to be a world-class enterprise that is passionate about the quality of life of the general populace and high returns to stakeholders,” Dangote said.

One of Dangote Foundation's guiding principles is to provide humanitarian relief to victims of natural and man-made disasters.
In the past, the Dangote Foundation had provided relief materials and food to victims of civil strife in Nigeria. Since its establishment in 1993, it has worked to provide drinking water and health facilities in partnership with various Nigerian state governments and through grants to individuals and groups for health, education and economic development projects.

The Group’s core business focus is to provide local, value added products and services that meet the “basic needs” of the Nigerian population. Through the construction and operation of large scale manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and across Africa, the group is focused on building local manufacturing capacity to generate employment, prevent capital flight and provide locally produced goods for local people. The Dangote Group has a workforce of over 14,000 employees.