Building
Self-Reliance
Economic empowerment — the ability to earn, save, invest and build — is the bridge between charity and transformation. The Aliko Dangote Foundation's empowerment programmes equip individuals and communities to create lasting prosperity from within.
Teach a Person
to Build
Aliko Dangote's philosophy of empowerment is rooted in his own origin story — a young man given a $3,000 loan and three trucks of cement, who repaid it in 3 months and built a $30+ billion empire. Access to capital, skills and networks can transform lives.
The ADF's empowerment programmes are deliberately designed to create economic multipliers — skills that generate income, businesses that create jobs, entrepreneurs who inspire other entrepreneurs. The goal is not dependency on the Foundation, but communities that no longer need it.
"Africa's future lies in her own hands — we just need to put the right tools in those hands."
All empowerment programmes begin with practical, market-relevant skill development — ensuring training translates to income, not just certificates.
Skills alone are insufficient. ADF links training graduates to micro-credit facilities, SME grants and Group supply chain opportunities.
Trained entrepreneurs are connected to Dangote Group's procurement network — 35,000+ SMEs in the supply chain with explicit local preference.
Senior executives from Dangote Group and partner organisations mentor programme graduates for two years post-training.
All programmes designed with explicit gender analysis. Timing, locations, childcare provisions and cultural sensitivities addressed in programme design.
Income tracked before, 6 months and 2 years after training. Businesses created, jobs generated and revenue growth are the measures of success.
Women's Economic Empowerment
Dangote Women Enterprise Fund
Grants of ₦500,000–₦5,000,000 to women-owned small businesses in manufacturing, agribusiness and services. Includes 12-month business mentorship and access to Group supply chain.
Women in Agriculture
Training 100,000 women smallholder farmers in modern agronomy, post-harvest handling and market linkage. Partnered with IFAD and Women for Women International.
Digital Skills for Women
Free digital literacy and e-commerce training for women traders and entrepreneurs. 50,000 women trained annually in mobile money, online selling and digital record-keeping.
Women in Manufacturing
Vocational training in food processing, garment production and light manufacturing. Dedicated production facility access for graduates to commercialise skills immediately.
Women Executive Leadership
Advanced leadership programme for women in mid-management across Nigeria. Delivered in partnership with Lagos Business School; 200 executives trained per cohort.
Cross-border Trade
Capacity building for women traders in the ZLECAf region — export documentation, customs procedures and market access across 17 Dangote-present countries.
Vocational Training Programme
Nigeria and West Africa face a significant skills deficit in technical and vocational trades — welding, electrical installation, plumbing, automotive maintenance, construction, and industrial process operation. The ADF Vocational Training Programme targets this gap with employer-linked, industry-standard training.
30 Dangote Group Vocational Centres operate adjacent to major Group facilities — equipped with real industrial tools and machinery, operated by master craftspeople and accredited by NABTEB (National Business and Technical Examinations Board).
Each 12-18 month programme ends with a guaranteed apprenticeship at a Dangote Group facility or pre-qualified SME contractor — directly connecting skills acquisition to employment and income generation.
SME Support Programme
Dangote SME Fund
Annual grant fund of ₦10 billion distributed to 2,000+ small businesses through competitive application. Focus on manufacturing, agribusiness and construction.
Business Development
Free business planning, financial management and marketing training for 10,000+ SMEs annually via 15 Dangote Business Development Centres in major cities.
Supply Chain Access
Preferred supplier registration programme for SMEs in Group supply chain. Technical qualification support, advance payment options and guaranteed off-take agreements.
Access to Finance
Partnership with Access Bank, Zenith and First Bank to provide SMEs with Group-backed letters of credit and reduced-rate loans using Dangote contracts as collateral.
Export Readiness
Export training and certification support for SMEs wanting to access regional African markets through ZLECAf — customs, standards, packaging and logistics.
Youth Entrepreneurship
Annual Dangote Entrepreneur Challenge for 18-30 year olds. 50 winners receive ₦5M grants + 12-month mentorship from Dangote Group executives.