Former military president General Ibrahim Babangida raised over N16bn from the presentation of his book and the launch of his presidential library on Thursday, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
According to reports, Babangida’s autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service,’ was launched at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, alongside the opening of his presidential library.
The event reportedly raised over N16bn in donations, mainly from Nigeria’s business elite and individuals Babangida assisted during his presidency. Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group and Nigeria’s richest man, made the largest pledge of N8bn, to be disbursed in installments of N2bn per year over four years.
He pledged to continue donating N2bn annually beyond the timeframe if the project extends. Abdulsamad Rabiu, founder of BUA Group of Companies, donated N5bn, while Theophilus Danjuma, founder of the TY Danjuma Foundation, donated N3bn.
Other notable donors included Arthur Eze, who gave N500m, Senator Sani Musa, who gave N250m, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who donated N50m, and Deputy Senate President, who donated N20m.
Folorunsho Alakija and a few others also made donations, but the amounts were not publicly disclosed. The event was attended by President Bola Tinubu, former presidents, and other prominent figures.
Former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Yemi Osinbajo were also in attendance, along with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections and former governor of Anambra State, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s presidential candidate and former governor of Kano State.
The keynote speaker was former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, while former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma also attended. The event was also graced by governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, industrialists, technocrats and traditional rulers.
