Aliko Dangote, the president of Nigeria’s Dangote Group, has been appointed grand patron of the Global Entrepreneurship Festival. In a statement released yesterday from Abuja, Dangote said the new role would allow him to promote business connections that he believes are essential for entrepreneurship and economic prosperity across Africa.
Speaking about the appointment, Dangote emphasized that “the main benefit of this is actually the connection. It is about connecting, merging and seeing what people can do together. You have people from North Africa, Sub‑Saharan Africa and different countries coming together.” He added that he was honored to receive the award and pledged to give his best effort.
Dr Summy Francis, speaking on behalf of the festival’s board, praised Dangote’s entrepreneurial spirit and his global influence. The board is chaired by Dan Vatovic in Colorado, United States, and the remarks were made alongside the festival’s Vice Chairlady.
“For me, as a mentee, I have seen tremendous growth since I joined the mentorship programme,” board member Elizabeth Jackrich said. “That was why I reached out to extend such mentorship to millions of entrepreneurs out there, and I am so grateful for its acceptance.”
The appointment positions Dangote to further champion collaborative initiatives that link entrepreneurs across regions, reinforcing the festival’s goal of fostering a supportive network for emerging businesses.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
