KEY POINTS
- Dangote University of Ilorin hostel gets N1.1 billion backing.
- Project will address housing needs and mosque funding.
- Africa’s richest man continues record of philanthropy.
Aliko Dangote is putting money behind a project that blends education and faith. Africa’s richest man has agreed to finance a 250-bed hostel at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, stepping in to complete a development that had stalled under the weight of rising costs.
The facility, priced at around N1.1 billion ($732,642), was originally started by the Ilorin Central Jumma’at Mosque. Its plan was simple but ambitious: provide affordable housing for students and use the rental income to cover upkeep of the mosque. Dangote’s intervention lifts that burden and puts the project back on track.
Dangote University of Ilorin hostel funding
Shehu AbdulGafar, secretary of the mosque’s board, said an agreement has already been signed with the university. The deal gives the mosque rights to manage the hostel for 21 years before it reverts to the institution. AbdulGafar described Dangote’s move as “transformative,” ensuring students gain access to decent housing while securing sustainable funding for one of the city’s most visible religious centers.
Student housing crunch and mosque upkeep
Ilorin’s student population has grown faster than available accommodation, leaving many struggling to find affordable spaces. According to Billionaires Africa, the hostel is expected to ease that strain, while rental proceeds will flow back to support the mosque’s daily maintenance. To bridge the gap until the project is finished, Dangote has also promised a monthly contribution of N5 million ($3,330).
A broader record of philanthropy
Dangote, who chairs Dangote Group and runs the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has long used his fortune to support public causes. His efforts have spanned education, healthcare and poverty relief across Nigeria and beyond. With a current net worth of $28.8 billion, he ranks 77th on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index and also remains the world’s richest black individual. The University of Ilorin hostel adds to a long list of projects where his philanthropy meets community needs.
