Dangote bags `Bridge Builder’ award

The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has received an award as a ‘Bridge Builder’, conferred on him by a Non Governmental Organisation, Love to the World Initiative Bridge Builders.
A statement by the group’s regional spokesman, Abubakar Jibrin, in Abuja stated that the award was in recognition of Dangote’s “avowed Pan-African posture, laced with his nationalistic approach in locating his industries and his employment policies”.
Jibrin quoted the NGO as saying: “The richest man in Africa and business mogul bagged the award for distinguishing himself in the promotion of peaceful co-existence, poverty alleviation and hospitality across the nation and Africa at large.”
The Chief Executive of the NGO, Josephine Anumbor, said that the award was aimed at mobilising Nigerians to change from being selfish to becoming selfless and to contribute to national development.
She said DANGOTE Industries Limited was a good example of the drive to curb unemployment and uplift Nigerians through various services.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Garba Abari, said the awardee deserved global recognition for giving succour to the less privileged.
Abari said: “Dangote’s assistance to Internally Displaced Persons in the North-East is exemplary.”
He said the NGO was a component of government’s “Change Begins With Me” campaign and urged Nigerians to show love, to enable the country to tackle socio-political and economic challenges facing the nation.
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who was the Chairman of the occasion, called on Nigerians to show love to one another.
Represented by his brother, Dauda Gowon, the ex-head of state said peaceful co-existence, love and unity were non-negotiable in resolving challenges.