By Emmanuel Nduka
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man with a staggering net worth of $23.9 billion, has yet to fulfill his $1 million promise to the victorious Super Eagles team of 2013. Despite his extraordinary financial success, Dangote’s unkept commitment to the football team has overshadowed his business accomplishments, Pulsesports resports.
For the 14th consecutive year, Dangote, whose wealth has nearly doubled in the past year thanks to the launch of the Dangote Refinery, continues to top Forbes’ list of Africa’s billionaires. His wealth has skyrocketed, with the refinery solidifying his status as a titan in industries spanning cement, sugar, and oil.
However, amidst his booming fortune, a decade-old pledge to reward the Super Eagles, who triumphed at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), remains unfulfilled. The $1 million promise, made by Dangote after the team’s historic victory under coach Stephen Keshi, has left the players, including captain Mikel Obi, still waiting for their reward. Twelve years later, the promise continues to go unhonoured.
As Nigerian fans express their disappointment, one user on social media shared their frustration: “This shows that Nigeria’s problem of failed promises is deep rooted. Politicians, capitalists and common people have the same traits of lack of integrity.” Another added, “One of the reasons I don’t blame any player that refuses to play for the country and for that play not giving their 100%,” Pulsesports quoted the fan as saying.
Dangote isn’t alone in this failure. Nigerian banker Tony Elumelu, another prominent figure, also pledged $500,000 to the same victorious squad but has similarly failed to deliver. This pattern of unkept promises has fueled growing frustration among Nigerian football fans.
In stark contrast to Dangote and Elumelu, Japanese plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu became a beacon of generosity in 2016. After Nigeria’s Olympic football team clinched a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, Takasu wasted no time in fulfilling his promise. Hours after the victory, he handed over $390,000—$200,000 to coach Samson Siasia and $190,000 to captain Mikel Obi. His swift generosity earned him widespread praise as a “man of his word,” a title that Dangote and Elumelu have yet to reclaim.
Despite his immense wealth, with the $1 million pledge representing less than 0.005% of his fortune, Dangote’s failure to deliver has raised questions about his integrity in keeping promises, especially as his financial empire grows.
