N5.5bn realised at Sarduana foundation

Written by Duncan Sunday, 18 October 2009

About N5.5 billion was realized yesterday at the launching of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation N20 billion appeal fund  with the Kano based business tycoon, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who was the chief launcher donating N250 million.

The chief launcher, who opened the floodgate of donations, also announced the N150 million donation of his nephew Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who was the second highest individual donor. A total of N779,480,000 were realized from Kano state alone, as announced by Dantata.

Giving a breakdown of donations from Kano State, Dantata said the state government, 44 local government councils and other institutions together donated N250 million. He also announced the donation of one of his siblings Alhaji Sayyu Dantata (N50 million), religious leader and business mogul Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu (N5 million), Kano House of Assembly, (N7 million), state commissioners (N1.9 million)

Earlier before announcing the donations, Alhaji Aminu Dantata advised that the foundation should be entrusted in the hands of people with track records who have no political leanings. He also counseled s that the proceeds should be channeled towards benefiting the society.

The chief launcher also shot back at northern critics. “Nobody can remove us from the country. People should stop saying that we in the North are parasites, 90 percent of the monies used for the building of refineries and all other structures for the harnessing of oil were gotten from the North. We need to device a means to correct this thinking,’’ he said. Dantata, however, urged leaders of the North to harness all the potentials of the area in order to accelerate its development.

Other states of the north also donated to the foundation with Kaduna State donating N250 million and 100 hectares of land for the building of the foundation, Sokoto State, Niger State, Taraba State, Adamawa  donated N250 million each while Yobe state gave  N210 million.

Nasararwa, Kogi State, Kwara state Plateau state, Gombe state Benue state Katsina doles out a whooping sum of N200 million each 200. While Zamfara State, Kebbi State, Bauchi State, Jigawa gave out N170 million each.  Borno state made the list among the states in the North with N150 million.

Other personalities that donated are former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who gave N2.5 million, Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah N2 million while a total of N64 million was donated by members of the House Representatives. Members of the federal executive council donated N20 million and FCDA 10 million naira.