Aliko Dangote, billionaire and chief executive officer of Dangote Group, gestures as he speaks during a panel session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. World leaders, influential executives, bankers and policy makers attend the 47th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos from Jan. 17 - 20. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg
Africa’s foremost industrialist Aliko Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has pledged ₦600 million for the construction of a girls’ hostel at Lagos State University (LASU) and offered preferential employment opportunities to first-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences.
The commitments were made during LASU’s combined 29th and 30th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions, held at the Buba Marwa Auditorium on the university’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos. Dangote was represented at the event by his daughter, Hajia Fatima (also referred to as Fatimah or Fatimat) Aliko Dangote.
LASU management disclosed the details on the university’s Facebook page on Friday. According to the institution, the ₦600 million pledge is specifically to support the construction of accommodation for female students.
First-class graduates in Engineering and Sciences from the graduating classes will receive preferential consideration for employment with the Dangote Group after completing their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. Some reports specify opportunities at the Dangote Refinery for deserving exemplary graduands.
Dangote was also honoured at the ceremony with an Honorary Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) in Entrepreneurship, Industrial and Human Capital Development. Other recipients of honorary doctorates included Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun and Mrs Harriet-Ann Bola Adesola (also referred to as Bola Adesola).
The Dangote Foundation’s intervention came alongside other highlights of the convocation. Lagos State Governor and Visitor to the university, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, donated ₦20 million each to the two overall best graduating students of the sessions: Ayilara Lawal Olawale (Project Management Technology, CGPA 4.96) of the 2024/2025 session, and Adebanjo Samuel Oluolamide (Aerospace Engineering, CGPA 4.97) of the 2025/2026 session.
Outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello used the occasion to highlight institutional progress, including the generation of approximately ₦13 billion in internally generated revenue over a four-year period. Dignitaries present included Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Chancellor of LASU, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation continues broader education initiatives, including scholarship programmes and plans to invest significantly in secondary and tertiary education, teacher training, STEM, and technical and vocational education in the coming years. The LASU pledges underscore ongoing private-sector support for infrastructure and graduate employability at the state university.
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