Dangote Foundation Supports Fire Victims, Hospitals, Vulnerable Families
By Patience Ikpeme
The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has intensified its nationwide humanitarian efforts, delivering critical food supplies to victims of disaster, physically challenged individuals, and poor families across Jigawa and Taraba States, while also strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Lagos State with the donation of a much-needed ambulance.
In Jigawa State, the Foundation distributed 500 bags of rice and 100 mats to the victims of a recent fire disaster that devastated Batakashi Community in Garki Local Government Area. The inferno, which broke out penultimate week during the night, razed over 45 houses, 35 silos, and wiped out several livestock, leaving many families displaced and in urgent need of assistance.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Jigawa Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Muhammad Murtala, announced that the Foundation had brought in 40,000 bags of 10kg rice to reach poor and vulnerable households across the state. He described the intervention as timely, given the extensive loss the community had suffered.
Residents of Batakashi Community, visibly moved by the support, offered prayers and words of gratitude to the Aliko Dangote Foundation. Mr. Umar Abdullahi, one of the beneficiaries, said the donation brought much-needed relief to a community still grappling with the aftermath of the fire disaster. Another resident, Mr. Usman Auwal, remarked that life had not been the same since the tragedy struck, commending both the Foundation and the Jigawa State Government for standing by the affected families.
Flagging off the distribution, the Chairman of Garki Local Government Area, Mr. Adamu Kore, lauded the Foundation’s intervention. According to him, the support has gone a long way in alleviating the hardship faced by the people and has provided hope to those struggling to rebuild their lives. Mr. Kore noted that the palliative efforts extended beyond the local government and were impacting lives across the state and the country at large.
Similarly, in Taraba State, the Aliko Dangote Foundation donated 20,000 bags of 10kg rice for distribution to vulnerable persons. Representing the Foundation during the presentation, Mr. Bello Dan Musa handed over the food supplies to the 16 Local Government Council chairmen and cabinet members of the Taraba State government.
Mr. Dan Musa said the donation reflected the Foundation’s deep commitment to reaching the poor and vulnerable across Nigeria. He explained that the rice distribution in Taraba was part of a larger Annual National Food Programme by the Foundation, which aims to benefit over one million families nationwide.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Taraba State Government, the Chairman of the Taraba State Palliative Committee, Alhaji Saleh Sa’ad, thanked the Foundation for its generosity, describing the donation as an important lifeline for many households facing hardship.
Beyond food assistance, the Aliko Dangote Foundation is also reinforcing the country’s healthcare delivery system. At Mainland Hospital in Yaba, Lagos State, the Foundation donated a new ambulance to address a critical gap that had lingered for over a decade. The hospital, which plays a frontline role in managing infectious disease outbreaks, had operated without a functional ambulance, severely hampering patient mobility and emergency response.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mainland Hospital described the donation as transformative, stating that the arrival of the ambulance would significantly improve the hospital’s efficiency in handling emergencies and referrals. He recounted the hospital’s struggles over the past ten years and expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Aliko Dangote Foundation for stepping in to fill a vital need.
According to him, the provision of the ambulance would now enable the hospital to move critical patients promptly, manage outbreak responses more effectively, and ultimately save more lives. He also extended special thanks to Mr. Aliko Dangote for personally driving efforts to support public healthcare facilities.
Speaking during the event, the Director of Health and Nutrition at the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Dr. Francis Aminu, described the donation as part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to improving healthcare access and strengthening systems that support Nigerian communities. Dr. Aminu explained that the Foundation views health interventions not merely as acts of charity but as a duty to society, adding that health is the foundation on which all other human aspirations are built.
He affirmed that the Foundation’s approach is rooted in sustainable impact, building systems that Nigerians can rely on even in challenging times. “What we do at ADF isn’t just charity; it’s a duty. Every Nigerian life matters, and no one should be left behind due to a lack of access to health resources,” he said.
Dr. Aminu also noted that the donation to Mainland Hospital is one among several strategic interventions by the Aliko Dangote Foundation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure. Over the years, ADF has been actively involved in combating malnutrition, eradicating polio, supporting disease control efforts during pandemics, and ensuring that vulnerable communities receive timely assistance.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to lifting lives across Nigeria, delivering humanitarian relief and systemic support, one community and one intervention at a time.
