African richest man and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has struck a partnership with international rock star artist Paul David, popularly called Bono, lead singer of rock group U2, to battle the creeping poverty, diseases and malnutrition in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the North-East and the rest of Nigeria.

At a joint press conference on Monday evening in Abuja, Alhaji Dangote said that as a result of the partnership, he and Bono had already visited Borno State, the flash point of the Boko Haram devastation, adding that the musician had seen things for himself.

His words: “The partnership will focus on the most marginalised citizens, particularly girls and women who face the brunt of poverty and help empower those who are most at risk of extreme poverty, extreme climate and extreme ideology.

“The new partnership will help amplify the calls of millions of Nigerian ONE members who have been campaigning for years on issues, including health, anti corruption and agriculture.

“I’m investing in ONE and partners across Nigeria to strengthen civil society and how the government responds to our ongoing health needs and the urgent malnutrition crisis in the North-east Nigeria. ONE’s extensive network of youth groups and its 2.3 million members will help bring international attention to and action on these issues. All of us can and must do more.”

Dangote disclosed that Dangote Foundation, similar to Bill Gates Foundation, had so far donated over N3billion in response to the crisis in the North-East, adding that the donations were in form of food, clothing and construction materials. He promised to donate more in the days ahead.

Speaking at the press conference, Bono, who is the co-founder of ONE Campaign Group said that he was proud to be in partnership Dangote whose Foundation works for the future of Nigeria and Africa through its young people.

He described the Nigerian and Africa youth as ‘rocket fuel’ and that there are no limits to how far they can go.

“They can transform the continent or they can blow up in your face. Harnessing their energy requires investment in their education, employment and healthcare. It is far better to invest in people now than pay the price with conflict later,” he said, adding:

“President Buhari knows this as do African democratic leaders across the content. In fact, leaders around the world from Africa to Europe are waking up to the need for massive investments in African youths, to harness their positive energy and prevent future instability.”

Dangote and Bono had visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and other parts of the state where they learned about severe malnutrition crisis which the North-east region is facing.

ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organisation of more than seven million members who are taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases, particularly in Africa. ONE’s Make Naija Strong is being spear headed in Nigeria by singer Waje and is also backed by Dangote.

•Photo shows Aliko Dangote

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