President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has pledged a donation of N550 million for the construction of student hostels at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), in a move aimed at improving accommodation for students.
Speaking during a visit to the institution, Dangote revealed that he had initially hoped to secure additional support from his daughter but was told otherwise.
“I have been trying to beg Zuweirah (my daughter) to try and give me some money,” he said.
“But she said she has already spent N1 trillion in the foundation and that she doesn’t have any money.”
Despite the setback, the billionaire businessman said he remained committed to supporting the university.
“But notwithstanding, we are going to build a hostel here at the cost of N550 million,” he added.
The donation is expected to significantly ease accommodation challenges faced by students of the institution, as demand for hostel spaces continues to outstrip supply.
Dangote, who is widely known for his philanthropic activities through the Dangote Foundation, has consistently supported education and infrastructure development across Nigeria.
Recently, he resolved to build a N1.1 billion ultramodern hostel at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), for Ilorin Central Jumma’at Mosque.
The business mogul took over the construction of the proposed 250-bed hostel project from the management of the mosque.
The facility, which is the initiative of Ilorin Central Jumma’at Mosque, upon completion, will generate annual rental income from students, with proceeds dedicated to the maintenance and upkeep of the mosque.
Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the mosque, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, disclosed Dangote’s takeover of the hostel project at a news conference in Ilorin yesterday.
He said the committee had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Ilorin on the project.
The mosque, he said, would own and manage the hostel for 21 years, after which ownership would revert to UNILORIN.
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