BY NEWS EDITOR, 27 OCTOBER, 2026 | 8:00PM
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni and the Aliko Dangote Foundation have fulfilled their pledge to pay for 20 shares for each of 43,928 women across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state under the Dangote Initial Public Offering, IPO, initiative.
The payment, completed before the October 27 deadline, marks a major milestone in an empowerment programme targeting widows, orphans, vulnerable women and families affected by conflict in the state.
The initiative, which began as a vision articulated by Gov. Buni at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, has now moved from aspiration to implementation with the redemption of the pledges.
Gov. Buni and Alhaji Aliko Dangote had pledged to sponsor 20 shares per beneficiary, connecting the women to an opportunity aimed at creating lasting value and strengthening household resilience.
Stakeholders described the intervention as more than a financial transaction, noting that it represents an investment in human dignity, economic empowerment and intergenerational opportunity.
According to the state government, the programme seeks to provide sustainable economic inclusion for vulnerable groups rather than temporary relief, with potential benefits that could extend to future generations.
'When leadership looks beyond immediate needs and invests in people, the dividends can extend far beyond today,' a statement on the initiative noted.
For the 43,928 beneficiaries, the fulfilment of the pledge is seen as a pathway to greater economic security and a future where vulnerability does not define destiny.