FUNKE OSAE-BROWN, Abuja
Aliko Dangote, chairman, Dangote Group has been named United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) ambassador for responsible tourism. He is the first African to be so named at the opening of the 61st Commission for Africa Meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday.
Dangote was represented at the event by Ahmed Mansur, executive director, Strategic Management and Corporate Communication, of the conglomerate said it was a great honour to be recognised by a global body like UNWTO.
“As I travelled round the world in pursuit of my business activities, I enjoyed the wonderful sights and sounds that tourism provides. I had opportunities to sample all that tourism could provide in the continent. I consider myself not only a committed traveller but a tourist. I had to juggle the opportunities to see tourists’ sites,” said Dangote in a speech read by Mansur.
Considered one of the most successful businessmen in Africa, Aliko Dangote founded the Dangote Group 30 years ago and turned his enterprise into the largest business conglomerate in West Africa.
Dangote also set up the largest Foundation in Africa, the Dangote Foundation, devoted to providing nutrition, health and education to the continent’s most vulnerable people.
“With this appointment, Dangote is added to the list of personalities named by UNWTO as Ambassadors for Responsible Tourism, whom we hope will act as messengers of our legacy and vision across the globe”, said Secretary-General of UNWTO Pololikashvili.
