Barely 24 hours after billionaire businessman Femi Otedola fulfilled his $25,000 pledge to the Super Eagles, the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Wednesday presented a cheque of $50,000 he promised the team during the 2019 African Nations Cup (AFCON) in Egypt.
Dangote, who was represented at the event held in Ikoyi, Lagos, by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Olakunle Alake, used the opportunity to reiterate his unflinching support for sports in Nigeria.
[ALSO READ: Otedola fulfils $25,000 pledge to Super Eagles]
DANGOTE AND FOOTBALL
Dangote’s romance with sports particularly football has been a long one.
He once made a bid to acquire the English Premiership League (EPL) club, Arsenal, but this was rebuffed by current Chairman of the club, American businessman Stan Kroenke.
The new romance with the three-time African champions is another attempt by Africa’s richest man to demonstrate his dodged passion for soccer and sports generally.
Recipients of the largesse
Present at the ceremony were the Super Eagles Equipment Manager, Chidi Ngoka, who represented the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF); the Team Administrator, Dayo Achor Enebi and Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu.
UPDATE ON DANGOTE ARSENAL BID
Dangote has not dropped his desire to own a football club someday.
He told sports editors at a media parley in 2018 that if Arsenal’s bid fails he would consider another club after the completion of his refinery project in 2020. The project has been described as the largest in Africa and one of the world’s best.
“By the time we finish the presumably world’s biggest oil refinery in Lagos, we’ll be a $30billion company in terms of revenue.
“We’ll have an excess amount of cash to start playing around with, particularly to buy Arsenal.
“I’m very attached to Arsenal but if he won’t sell, I might have to change. I’m very much a fan of football. I’ll like to have a club. I don’t have to own Arsenal,” the billionaire said.
DO YOU KNOW?
Dangote’s $50, 000 donation to the Super Eagles was not the first time the business mogul gave a peck to sports men and women in the country.
- In 2013, he presented a cash gift of $820,000 to the Super Eagles for winning the African Nations Cup in South Africa. The team was led by the late Stephen Keshi.
- In 2018, Dangote through his philanthropic organisation – Aliko Dangote Foundation – donated N2.6 billion to various schools across the countries in 11 months.
[SEE: How Dangote is building his refinery with the world largest atmospheric tower]